Method and system for fast cloning of virtual machines

ABSTRACT

A method for network cloud resource generation, including creating a template virtual machine. The method includes creating an instantiation of a virtual machine for an end user by cloning the template, and loading an application executed by the virtual machine. The method includes accessing first information associated with the end user, and loading the first information in an instantiation of the application.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to andthe benefit of the commonly owned, patent application, U.S. Ser. No.14/092,872, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CLOUD BASED VIRTUALIZEDGRAPHICS PROCESSING FOR REMOTE DISPLAYS,” with filing date Nov. 27,2013, and having attorney docket number NVID-P-SC-12-0727-US1, which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of thecommonly owned, provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No.61/730,940, entitled “CLOUD BASED VIRTUALZIED GRAPHICS PROCESSING FORREMOTE DISPLAYS,” with filing date Nov. 28, 2012, and having attorneydocket number NVID-P-SC-12-0727-US0, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of thecommonly owned, provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No.61/730,939, entitled “CLOUD BASED VIRTUALZIED GRAPHICS PROCESSING FORREMOTE DISPLAYS,” with filing date Nov. 28, 2012, and having attorneydocket number NVID-P-SC-12-0728-US0, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of thecommonly owned, provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No.61/749,224, entitled “NETWORK-ATTACHED GPU DEVICE,” with filing dateJan. 4, 2013, and having attorney docket number NVID-P-SC-12-0814-US0,which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of thecommonly owned, provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No.61/749,231, entitled “THOR SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE,” with filing date Jan.4, 2013, and having attorney docket number NVID-P-SC-12-0470-US0, whichis herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of thecommonly owned, provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No.61/874,056, entitled “THOR SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE,” with filing date Sep.5, 2013, and having attorney docket number NVID-P-SC-12-0470-USX, whichis herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of thecommonly owned, provisional patent application, U.S. Ser. No.61/874,078, entitled “NETWORK-ATTACHED GPU DEVICE,” with filing dateSep. 5, 2013, and having attorney docket number NVID-P-SC-12-0814-USX,which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application is related to copending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/727,357, “VIRTUALIZED GRAPHICS PROCESSING FOR REMOTEDISPLAY,” filed on Dec. 26, 2012, with Attorney Docket No.NVID-P-SC-09-0210-US1, which is incorporated herein by reference for allpurposes.

BACKGROUND

Historically, an application such as a video game was executed (played)using a personal computer (PC) or using a console attached to atelevision. A user purchased or rented a game, which was loaded onto thePC or inserted into the game console and then played in a well-knownmanner.

More recently, online gaming has become popular. An online game isplayed over a network such as the Internet. The game is loaded onto auser's device while other software needed to play the game resides on aserver that is accessed via the network. Online gaming allows multipleusers to compete against each other in the game environment provided bythe software on the server.

In addition, mobile gaming has become popular. For example, a mobiledevice (e.g., phone) may provide a video game to a user that can becontrolled through, for example, the touchscreen controls of the mobilephone. These controls are virtually created and displayed on thetouchscreen. Because such mobile phones are not manufacturedspecifically for gaming, the processing power of such mobile phones isoften too low for many games. Another problem with mobile phones is thatthey are often unable to support certain games because such gamesrequire a certain operating system environment to run. Further, thevirtual buttons take up valuable screen space, thereby reducing theoverall display of the game to the user.

Furthermore, virtual control buttons simulated through the touchscreenof the display provides a poor interface between the user and the game.It is difficult to gain a tactile interaction with a virtual buttonsince the button is virtualized on a flat screen. Without a tactilereference, the only way to ensure that the virtual button is beingengaged is to physically look at the finger and the virtual buttonsimultaneously. This may take the eye of the gamer away from the screenat a crucial point in a game. Also, the buttons are limited to the frontsurface of the mobile device. Since the buttons are virtually created,these buttons can only be presented on the touch screen display.Competition for screen space may cause the number of buttons to bereduced, or to be rendered so small that they are difficult to use.

SUMMARY

In embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus for providinggraphics processing is described. The apparatus includes a dual centralprocessing unit (CPU) socket architecture comprising a first CPU socketand a second CPU socket. The apparatus includes a plurality of graphicsprocessing unit (GPU) boards providing a plurality of GPU processorscoupled to the first CPU socket and the second CPU socket, wherein eachGPU board comprises two or more of the plurality of GPU processors. Theapparatus includes a communication interface coupling the first CPUsocket to a first subset of one or more GPU boards and the second CPUsocket to a second subset of one or more GPU boards. In anotherembodiment, a network attached GPU device is described. The networkattached GPU device includes a plurality of processing boards providinga plurality of virtual CPU and GPU processors. Each of the processingboards includes a dual CPU socket architecture comprising a first CPUsocket and a second CPU socket. Each processing board includes aplurality of GPU boards providing a plurality of GPU processors coupledto the first CPU socket and the second CPU socket, wherein each GPUboard comprises two or more of the plurality of GPU processors. Eachprocessing board includes a first plurality of communication bridgeseach coupling a corresponding GPU board to said the CPU socket and thesecond CPU socket. Each processing board includes a communicationinterface coupling the first CPU socket to a first subset of one or moreGPU boards and the second CPU socket to a second subset of one or moreGPU boards.

In embodiments of the present invention, a computer implemented methodfor switching video streams delivered to a remote display is disclosed.In other embodiments, a non-transitory computer readable medium isdisclosed having computer-executable instructions for causing a computersystem to perform a method for switching video streams delivered to aremote display. In still other embodiments, a computer system isdisclosed comprising a processor and memory coupled to the processor andhaving stored therein instructions that, if executed by the computersystem, cause the computer system to execute a method for switchingvideo streams delivered to a remote display. The method includesinitializing an instantiation of an application. The method includesperforming graphics rendering on a plurality of frames to generate afirst video stream through execution of the application, wherein thefirst video stream comprises the plurality of frames. The methodincludes sequentially loading the plurality of frames into one or moreframe buffers. The method includes determining when a first bitmap of aframe is loaded into a corresponding frame buffer matches an applicationsignature comprising a derivative of a master bitmap associated with akeyframe of the first video stream.

In another embodiment, a system for switching video streams delivered toa remote display is disclosed. The system includes a processor forinitializing an instantiation of an application. The system includes agraphics renderer for performing graphics rendering on a plurality offrames to generate a first video stream through execution of theapplication, wherein the first video stream comprises the plurality offrames. The system includes a frame buffer for receiving in sequence aplurality of frames associated with the first video stream. The systemincludes a comparator configured for determining when a first bitmap ofa frame is loaded into a corresponding frame buffer matches anapplication signature comprising a derivative of a master bitmapassociated with a keyframe of the first video stream.

In embodiments of the present invention, a computer implemented methodfor network cloud resource generation. The method includes creating atemplate virtual machine in a cloud based system. The method includescreating an instantiation of a virtual machine for an end user bycloning the template. The method includes loading an applicationexecuted by the virtual machine. The method includes accessing firstinformation associated with the end user. The method includes loadingthe first information in an instantiation of said application.

In embodiments of the present invention, a computer implemented methodof allocation is described. In other embodiments, a non-transitorycomputer readable medium is disclosed having computer-executableinstructions for causing a computer system to perform a method forallocation is described. In still other a computer system is disclosedcomprising a processor and memory coupled to the processor and havingstored therein instructions that, if executed by the computer system,cause the computer system to execute a method for allocation. The methodincludes receiving a request for executing an application from a clientdevice associated with an end user. The method includes determining afirst performance class for the application. The method includesdetermining a first virtual machine of the first performance class thatis available. The method includes assigning the first virtual machinefor purposes of executing the application in association with the clientdevice.

These and other objects and advantages of the various embodiments of thepresent disclosure will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in theart after reading the following detailed description of the embodimentsthat are illustrated in the various drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part ofthis specification and in which like numerals depict like elements,illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an exemplary computer system suitablefor implementing embodiments according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of a client device capable ofimplementing embodiments according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a network architecture inwhich client systems and servers may be coupled to a network, accordingto embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4A illustrates a graphics system 400A configurable for implementingcloud based virtualized graphics processing for remote displays, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4B is an illustration of an architecture 400B that is configured toimplement a cloud based virtualized graphics processing for remotedisplays, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A-B are illustrations of dual socket architectures configuredwith multiple graphics processor chipsets implemented to provide one ormore network attached GPU devices, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the implementation of multiple GPU capableprocessing boards to provide cloud based virtualized graphics processingfor remote displays.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system configured for detecting akeyframe, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8A is a flow diagram illustrating a method for detecting a keyframeduring execution of an application on a virtual machine supported by acloud computing platform providing virtualized graphics processing forremote displays, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8B is an information flow diagram illustrating the process fordetecting a keyframe, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a resource generation system configured togenerate new virtual machines using a template virtual machine andcustomizing each instantiation of a virtual machine with user specificdata, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10A is a flow chart illustrating a method for resource generationfor a new virtual machine providing cloud based virtualized graphicsprocessing for a remote display, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 10B is a flow chart illustrating a method for throttling theallocation of resources when generating a new virtual machine to lessenits impact on the operations of existing virtual machines, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a system capable of performing windowsmanagement on a remote display for purposes of minimizing exposure of adesktop operating system on a front window of the remote display, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method for performing windowsmanagement on a remote display for purposes of minimizing exposure of adesktop operating system on a front window of the remote display, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 13A-O illustrate the implementation of a gaming platform providingcloud based virtualized graphics processing for remote displays, inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 14A-H are diagrams illustrating a system and method fordynamically allocating and assigning game seats in a cloud basedgaming/application environment, in embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a method for allocating a virtualmachine to an end client in a cloud based graphics processing system

FIG. 16 is a flow chart 1600 illustrating a computer implemented methodfor implementing a global lock to order the handling of requests, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 17A-F are illustrations of various method implemented for seatallocation in a cloud based graphics processing system, in accordancewith embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments of thepresent disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. While described in conjunction with theseembodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limitthe disclosure to these embodiments. On the contrary, the disclosure isintended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which maybe included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined bythe appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed descriptionof the present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure.However, it will be understood that the present disclosure may bepracticed without these specific details. In other instances, well-knownmethods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described indetail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the presentdisclosure.

Some portions of the detailed descriptions that follow are presented interms of procedures, logic blocks, processing, and other symbolicrepresentations of operations on data bits within a computer memory.These descriptions and representations are the means used by thoseskilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey thesubstance of their work to others skilled in the art. In the presentapplication, a procedure, logic block, process, or the like, isconceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructionsleading to a desired result. The steps are those utilizing physicalmanipulations of physical quantities. Usually, although not necessarily,these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capableof being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwisemanipulated in a computer system. It has proven convenient at times,principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals astransactions, bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, samples,pixels, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present disclosure,discussions utilizing computing terms such as “executing,” “receiving,”“connecting,” “navigating,” “facilitating,” “installing,” or the like,refer to actions and processes of a computer system or similarelectronic computing device or processor (e.g., in flow charts 8A,10A-B, 12, 15, 16, and 17A-F of the present application). The computersystem or similar electronic computing device manipulates and transformsdata represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computersystem memories, registers or other such information storage,transmission or display devices.

FIGS. 8A, 10A-B, 12, 15, 16, and 17A-F are flowcharts of examples ofcomputer-implemented methods for providing cloud based virtualizedgraphics processing for remote displays, according to embodiments of thepresent invention. Although specific steps are disclosed in theflowcharts, such steps are exemplary. That is, embodiments of thepresent invention are well-suited to performing various other steps orvariations of the steps recited in the flowcharts.

Other embodiments described herein may be discussed in the generalcontext of computer-executable instructions residing on some form ofcomputer-readable storage medium, such as program modules, executed byone or more computers or other devices. By way of example, and notlimitation, computer-readable storage media may comprise non-transitorycomputer storage media and communication media. Generally, programmodules include routines, programs, objects, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may becombined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.

Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures,program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but isnot limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM),electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), digital versatile disks(DVDs) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape,magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othermedium that can be used to store the desired information and that canaccessed to retrieve that information.

Communication media can embody computer-executable instructions, datastructures, and program modules, and includes any information deliverymedia. By way of example, and not limitation, communication mediaincludes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection,and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared andother wireless media. Combinations of any of the above can also beincluded within the scope of computer-readable media.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a computing system 100capable of implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. Computingsystem 100 broadly represents any single or multi-processor computingdevice or system capable of executing computer-readable instructions.Examples of computing system 100 include, without limitation,workstations, laptops, client-side terminals, servers, distributedcomputing systems, handheld devices, or any other computing system ordevice. In its most basic configuration, computing system 100 mayinclude at least one processor 105 and a system memory 110.

It is appreciated that computer system 100 described herein illustratesan exemplary configuration of an operational platform upon whichembodiments may be implemented to advantage. Nevertheless, othercomputer system with differing configurations can also be used in placeof computer system 100 within the scope of the present invention. Thatis, computer system 100 can include elements other than those describedin conjunction with FIG. 1. Moreover, embodiments may be practiced onany system which can be configured to enable it, not just computersystems like computer system 100. It is understood that embodiments canbe practiced on many different types of computer systems 100. System 100can be implemented as, for example, a desktop computer system or servercomputer system having a power general-purpose CPUs coupled to adedicated graphics rendering GPU. In such an embodiment, components canbe included that add peripheral buses, specialized audio/videocomponents, I/O devices, and the like. Similarly system 100 can beimplemented as a handheld device (e.g., cell phone, etc.) or a set-topvideo game console device, such as, for example Xbox®, available fromMicrosoft corporation of Redmond, Wash., or the PlayStation3®, availablefrom Sony Computer Entertainment Corporation of Tokyo, Japan. System 100can also be implemented as a “system on a chip”, where the electronics(e.g., the components 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 150, and the like)of a computing device are wholly contained within a single integratedcircuit die. Examples include a hand-held instrument with a display, acar navigation system, a portable entertainment system, and the like.

In the example of FIG. 1, the computer system 100 includes a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 105 for running software applications andoptionally an operating system. Memory 110 stores applications and datafor use by the CPU 105. Storage 115 provides non-volatile storage forapplications and data and may include fixed disk drives, removable diskdrives, flash memory devices, and CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other opticalstorage devices. The optional user input 120 includes devices thatcommunicate user inputs from one or more users to the computer system100 and may include keyboards, mice, joysticks, touch screens, and/ormicrophones.

The communication or network interface 125 allows the computer system100 to communicate with other computer systems via an electroniccommunications network, including wired and/or wireless communicationand including the Internet. The optional display device 150 may be anydevice capable of displaying visual information in response to a signalfrom the computer system 100. The components of the computer system 100,including the CPU 105, memory 110, data storage 115, user input devices120, communication interface 125, and the display device 150, may becoupled via one or more data buses 160.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a graphics system 130 may be coupled withthe data bus 160 and the components of the computer system 100. Thegraphics system 130 may include a physical graphics processing unit(GPU) 135 and graphics memory. The GPU 135 generates pixel data foroutput images from rendering commands. The physical GPU 135 can beconfigured as multiple virtual GPUs that may be used in parallel(concurrently) by a number of applications executing in parallel.

Graphics memory may include a display memory 140 (e.g., a frame buffer)used for storing pixel data for each pixel of an output image. Inanother embodiment, the display memory 140 and/or additional memory 145may be part of the memory 110 and may be shared with the CPU 105.Alternatively, the display memory 140 and/or additional memory 145 canbe one or more separate memories provided for the exclusive use of thegraphics system 130.

In another embodiment, graphics processing system 130 includes one ormore additional physical GPUs 155, similar to the GPU 135. Eachadditional GPU 155 may be adapted to operate in parallel with the GPU135. Each additional GPU 155 generates pixel data for output images fromrendering commands. Each additional physical GPU 155 can be configuredas multiple virtual GPUs that may be used in parallel (concurrently) bya number of applications executing in parallel. Each additional GPU 155can operate in conjunction with the GPU 135 to simultaneously generatepixel data for different portions of an output image, or tosimultaneously generate pixel data for different output images.

Each additional GPU 155 can be located on the same circuit board as theGPU 135, sharing a connection with the GPU 135 to the data bus 160, oreach additional GPU 155 can be located on another circuit boardseparately coupled with the data bus 160. Each additional GPU 155 canalso be integrated into the same module or chip package as the GPU 135.Each additional GPU 155 can have additional memory, similar to thedisplay memory 140 and additional memory 145, or can share the memories140 and 145 with the GPU 135.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of an end user or client device200 capable of implementing embodiments according to the presentinvention. In the example of FIG. 2, the client device 200 includes aCPU 205 for running software applications and optionally an operatingsystem. The user input 220 includes devices that communicate user inputsfrom one or more users and may include keyboards, mice, joysticks, touchscreens, and/or microphones.

The communication interface 225 allows the client device 200 tocommunicate with other computer systems (e.g., the computer system 100of FIG. 1) via an electronic communications network, including wiredand/or wireless communication and including the Internet. The decoder255 may be any device capable of decoding (decompressing) data that maybe encoded (compressed). For example, the decoder 255 may be an H.264decoder. The display device 250 may be any device capable of displayingvisual information, including information received from the decoder 255.The display device 250 may be used to display visual informationgenerated at least in part by the client device 200. However, thedisplay device 250 may be used to display visual information receivedfrom the computer system 100. The components of the client device 200may be coupled via one or more data buses 260. Further, the componentsmay or may not be physically included inside the housing of the clientdevice 200. For example, the display 250 may be a monitor that theclient device 200 communicates with either through cable or wirelessly.

Relative to the computer system 100, the client device 200 in theexample of FIG. 2 may have fewer components and less functionality and,as such, may be referred to as a thin client. In general, the clientdevice 200 may be any type of device that has display capability, thecapability to decode (decompress) data, and the capability to receiveinputs from a user and send such inputs to the computer system 100.However, the client device 200 may have additional capabilities beyondthose just mentioned. The client device 200 may be, for example, apersonal computer, a tablet computer, a television, a hand-held gamingsystem, or the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a network architecture 300 inwhich client systems 310, 320, and 330 and servers 340 and 345 may becoupled to a network 350. Client systems 310, 320, and 330 generallyrepresent any type or form of computing device or system, such ascomputing system 110 of FIG. 1 and/or client device 200 of FIG. 2.

Similarly, servers 340 and 345 generally represent computing devices orsystems, such as application servers, GPU servers, or database servers,configured to provide various database services and/or run certainsoftware applications. Network 350 generally represents anytelecommunication or computer network including, for example, anintranet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), apersonal area network (PAN), or the Internet.

With reference to computing system 100 of FIG. 1, a communicationinterface, such as communication interface 125, may be used to provideconnectivity between each client system 310, 320, and 330 and network350. Client systems 310, 320, and 330 may be able to access informationon server 340 or 345 using, for example, a web browser or other clientsoftware. In that manner, client systems 310, 320, and 330 areconfigurable to access servers 340 and/or 345 that provide for graphicsprocessing capabilities, thereby off-loading graphics processing to theback end servers 340 and/or 345 for purposes of display at the front endclient systems 310, 320, and 330. Further, such software may allowclient systems 310, 320, and 330 to access data hosted by server 340,server 345, storage devices 360(1)-(L), storage devices 370(1)-(N),storage devices 390(1)-(M), or intelligent storage array 395. AlthoughFIG. 3 depicts the use of a network (such as the Internet) forexchanging data, the embodiments described herein are not limited to theinternet or any particular network-based environment.

In one embodiment, all or a portion of one or more of the exampleembodiments disclosed herein are encoded as a computer program andloaded onto and executed by server 340, server 345, storage devices360(1)-(L), storage devices 370(1)-(N), storage devices 390(1)-(M),intelligent storage array 395, or any combination thereof. All or aportion of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein mayalso be encoded as a computer program, stored in server 340, run byserver 345, and distributed to client systems 310, 320, and 330 overnetwork 350.

Methods and Systems for a GRID Architecture Providing Cloud BasedVirtualized Graphics Processing for Remote Displays

FIG. 4A illustrates a graphics system 400A configurable for implementingcloud based virtualized graphics processing for remote displays, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, thegraphics processing system 400A includes a physical GPU 135 of FIG. 1,although system 400A can include additional physical GPUs 155 asdescribed above.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the physical GPU 135is configured for concurrent use by a number N of applications 1, 2, . .. , N. More specifically, the physical GPU 135 is configured as a numberM of virtual GPUs 415A, 415B, . . . , 415M that are concurrently used bythe applications 1, 2, . . . , N. Each of the additional GPUs 155 may besimilarly configured as multiple virtual GPUs. In one embodiment, theGPU 135 and the additional GPUs 155 are coupled to a memory managementunit 420 (MMU; e.g., an input/output MMU) that is in turn coupled tographics memory, described in conjunction with FIG. 1.

In one embodiment, the applications 1, 2, . . . , N are video gameapplications; however, the invention is not so limited. That is, theapplications 1, 2, . . . , N can be any type of application. Forexample, the application may provide financial services, computer aideddesign (CAD) services, etc. In still another example, the applicationmay be a programming guide that provides, in table form, a list of thevarious programs that are available on different television channels indifferent time slots, and the client device may be a set top box (cableor satellite).

FIG. 4B is an illustration of an architecture 400B that is configured toimplement a cloud based virtualized graphics processing for remotedisplays, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.The graphics architecture 400B provides network resources managed by oneor more host operating systems, wherein the network resources (e.g.,CPU, GPU, etc.) are virtualized and shared within one or more virtualmachines (VMs) and external communication networks. In particular, acloud system 45A-N is shown, wherein each of the cloud systems 450A-Nwork cooperatively to connect multiple computing resources togetherthrough a communication network. As such, the computing resources aredistributed throughout the architecture 400B. In embodiments of thepresent invention, the cloud systems 450A-N provide complete,virtualized gaming systems that are also designed to provide high powergraphics processing.

As an example, cloud system 450A provides distributed computingresources, and is representative of each of the cloud systems 450A-Nthat provide cloud based virtualized graphics processing for remotedisplays. In particular, cloud system 450A includes a Game Machine (GM)server cloud system 460, which comprises a plurality of physical serversor game machines 461A-N. The GM system 461A is described herein and isrepresentative of each of the GMs 461A-N. In particular, the physical GM461A provides a host system that supports a plurality of virtualmachines. For implementing the virtual machines 455A-N within the GM461A, a VM host manager 462 in conjunction with the hypervisor 451include software, firmware or hardware that create, manages, and runsthe virtual machines (also referred to as “game seats”) 455A-N.Specifically, the VM host manager 462 interacts with a hypervisor 451 toallocate the game seats 455A-N within the GM system 461A. Moreparticularly, the VM host manager is able to bind and link the physicalresources (e.g., one or more CPU cores and the physical GPUs) that areallocated to a specific game seat (e.g., 455A).

The game seat (e.g., VM) 455A is representative of game seats 455A-Nwithin the physical server or GM 461A. Each virtual game seat 455Aoperates within its own virtual environment that is run through acorresponding operating system, such as, a virtualized Windows®operating system. For example, the operating system gives the game seat455 a the ability to execute the gaming application 458A, turn it into avideo stream, and send it out a proper port and channel to a receiver atthe client server 490. The client server 490 includes any electronicdevice configured to communicate with the cloud system 450A-N for aninstantiation of a virtual machine. For example, the client server 490includes a thin client, dumb server, mobile device, laptop, personalcomputer, etc.

A game agent 456A instantiates the game seat 455A and helps with themanagement and coordination of the plurality of game seats within thecloud system 450A. For instance, game agent 456A along with all theother game agents work with a provision manager 471 of a provisionmanager cloud 470 in order to create, manage, and provision to endclient systems 490 the necessary game seats within the cloud system450A-N. For instance, provision manager 470 works with the client system490 to provision a corresponding game seat (e.g., 455A). Further,provision manager includes information related to each of gamingapplications (e.g., 458), which is included in the game title assetsblock 467. As such, the game agent 456A is able to receive informationrelated to the gaming application 458 that is instantiated within thegame seat 455A, such as, descriptive information, recommendedconfiguration settings based on the capabilities of the game seat 455A,etc. A first-in-first-out (FIFO) component 468 that orders the incomingrequests for game seats. In one embodiment, the FIFO component handlesrequests in FIFO order.

A mjolnir server 457A provides the encoding and packetization ofinformation. For instance, mjolnir server 457A is configured to encodeand packetize graphics video data that is generated by the game seat(VM) 455A through the execution of a gaming application 458A. As shown,the instantiation of the gaming application 458A is provided from ametrics storage 471 that is coupled to a third party content providerthat provides access to an instance of the gaming application 458A.

An OpConsole server 463 coordinates with the various VM host managers(e.g., 462) on the nodes of physical servers 461A-N. In particular, theOpConsole server 463 acts as a cluster manager for the cluster ofservers or GMs 461A-N. For example, the OpConsole server 463 notifiesthe service registry 464 or seat registry which game seats areoperational, which game seats are in use, which game seats are down,which game seats are queued up, which game seats are being reset, whichgame seats need to be serviced, etc.

In addition, the OpConsole server 463 interacts with the serviceregistry 464 so that current status of the overall cluster of game seatsis provided. The status of game seats is maintained in the serviceregistry 464. In addition, the deployment manager 465, is configured toprovide a notification service to each of the game seats. For instance,the deployment manager 465 is able to push information about andinstantiations of new games, or information about new games, newsoftware updates, new versions of software, etc. in that manner, thedeployment manager 465 provides a scalable method for notifying each ofthe game agents and game seats of pertinent information.

The metrics store 471 is configured to collect data related to theoperation of gaming applications within corresponding game seats. Forinstance, the metrics store 471 collects bit rates, quality of service(QoS), etc. The load balancer 466 balances the loads of connectionrequest for game seats coming in from the client servers 490.

Visual Computing Appliance (VCA) for Implementing Cloud BasedVirtualized Graphics Processing for Remote Displays

FIG. 5A is an illustration of a symmetrical GRID system architecture500A that provides graphics processing, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the architecture isimplemented as a circuit board holding one or more integrated chips thatare communicatively coupled together to provide graphics processingcapabilities. The GRID architecture 500A is implemented within the cloudbased architecture 400B in order to implement cloud based virtualizedgraphics processing for remote displays, in one embodiment.

The GRID system architecture 500A includes a dual socket architecturethat includes a first CPU socket 501A and a second CPU socket 501B. Inone implementation, each CPU socket is configured to provide electricalconnections between a microprocessor providing CPU capabilities and anunderlying board. As shown in FIG. 5A, a multi-core processor iscommunicatively coupled to each of the first and second CPU sockets. Forinstance, a integrated circuit or “chipset” includes multiple coreprocessors that combined form hardware components of a computing systemthat is configured to execute instructions of a computer programs asimplemented through operations of an operating system. In oneembodiment, the multi-core processor comprises a XEON E 2670 processor.As shown in FIG. 5A, a XEON E 2670 processor is coupled to the firstsocket 501A and a XEON E 2670 processor is also coupled to the secondsocket 501B.

In one embodiment, the dual socket architecture 500A is configured as aSandy bridge processor architecture including multi-core processors. Forinstance, an Intel® QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) link is providedbetween the first and second CPU sockets in order to provide apoint-to-point front-side bus interface between the two sockets and theCPU processors coupled to the sockets. In that manner, the two CPUprocessors within the first CPU socket 501A and the second CPU socket501B can operate as one machine under a single operating system. Thatis, a single operating system manages the CPU multi-core processors thatare coupled to the first CPU socket 501A and second CPU socket 501B assupported by the QPI link.

In addition, the dual socket architecture 500A is configured withmultiple graphics processors (e.g., integrated circuits, chipsets,etc.). Specifically, the architecture 500A includes a plurality of GPUboards 510A, 510B, . . . , 510N providing a plurality of GPU processorsand/or chipsets, wherein the GPU processors are coupled to the first CPUsocket and to the second CPU socket. Each of the GPU boards are coupledto a corresponding CPU socket through a communication bus interface thatcouples the first CPU socket 501A to a first subset of one or more GPUboards, and the second CPU socket 501B to a second subset of one or moreGPU boards. In one embodiment, the communication bus interface includescommunication bridge 505A-N, such as, a PCI Express (PCIe) bridge in oneembodiment. In that configuration, a PCIe controller acts to facilitatecommunication between a corresponding GPU board and the CPU socket overa corresponding PCIe bridge. As such, the dual socket architecture 500Aincludes a plurality of communication bridges, wherein eachcommunication bridge communicatively couples a corresponding GPU boardto a corresponding first or second CPU socket. For example, as shown inFIG. 5A, bridges 505A-D couples each of the GPU boards 510A-D to eitherthe first CPU socket 501A or second CPU socket 501B.

In one embodiment, the plurality of GPU boards are symmetricallydistributed across the dual CPU socket architecture 500A. For instance,an equal number of GPU boards are connected to or hang off of each CPUsocket. As shown in FIG. 5A, the dual CPU socket architecture 500Aincludes four GPU boards that are coupled to the first CPU socket 501Aand second CPU socket 501B. More specifically, in a four GPU boardconfiguration, a first GPU board 510A and a second GPU board 510B areeach coupled to the first CPU socket 501A, and a third GPU board 510Cand a fourth GPU board 510D are each coupled to the second CPU socket501B.

Each of the GPU boards 510A-D are configured identically, in oneembodiment. In other embodiments, the GPU boards 510A-D may beconfigured differently with varying numbers of GPU processors includedwithin each GPU board. As shown, each of the GPU boards 510A-D includestwo or more of the plurality of GPU processors. As shown in FIG. 5A, theGPU boards 510A-D each includes two GPU processors, though a highernumber of GPU processors are used in other embodiments. For purposes ofillustration, the GPU board 510A-D is outfitted with an Nvidia® GK107graphics processor chip. Each GPU board 510A-D includes a bridgesplitter that is coupled to a corresponding communication bridge. Thebridge splitter directs communication originating from and directed theproper GPU board.

FIG. 5B is an illustration of an asymmetrical GRID system architecture500B that provides graphics processing, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure. That is, the plurality of GPUboards 550A-C are asymmetrically distributed across a dual socketarchitecture 500B. In general, the dual socket GRID system architecture500B is configured similarly as the GRID system architecture 500A,including two CPU sockets 560A and 560B that are each communicativelycoupled to one or more GPU boards.

For instance, the asymmetric configuration includes unequal numbers ofGPU boards connected to each CPU socket 560A or 560B. As shown in FIG.5B, the dual CPU socket architecture 500B includes three GPU boards thatare coupled to the first CPU socket 560A and second CPU socket 560B.More specifically, in a there GPU board configuration, a first GPU board550A and a second GPU board 550B are each coupled to the first CPUsocket 560A. On the other hand, only one GPU board 550C is coupled tothe second CPU socket 560B.

Each of the GPU boards 550A-C are configured identically, in oneembodiment. In other embodiments, the GPU boards 510 may be configureddifferently with varying numbers of GPU processors included within eachGPU board. As shown, each of the GPU boards 550A-C includes two or moreof the plurality of GPU processors. As shown in FIG. 5B, the GPU boards550A-C each includes four GPU processors, though a different number ofGPU processors are used in other embodiments. For purposes ofillustration, the GPU board 550A-C is outfitted with an Nvidia® GK107graphics processor chip.

In one embodiment, the dual CPU socket architecture (e.g., 500A) and theplurality of GPU broads support a plurality of virtual machines (e.g.,through a could based structure), each of which include portions of oneor more CPU cores and one or more GPU processors. In one furtherembodiment, the dual socket architecture 500A is configured in such away that one GPU processor supports one instantiation of a virtualmachine as populated by the dual socket architecture 500A. In anotherembodiment, a plurality of virtualized GPU processors is supported bythe plurality of physical GPU processors, wherein a virtualized GPUsupports a virtual machine. In that case, a physical GPU, or portions ofa physical GPU may support any number of virtual machines.

In one embodiment, the dual CPU socket architecture and the plurality ofGPU boards are implemented within a pseudo virtual machine systemoperating under a single operating system. That is, a software layerenables the use of a single operating system to stream multipleapplications, such as, gaming applications. That is, the software layer(e.g., middleware) instantiates a pseudo virtual machine that maysupport multiple end clients, wherein the pseudo virtual machine runsand/or executes multiple applications for one or more end users.

In one embodiment, the NUMI pinning software configuration for providingthe proper CPU to GPU ratio and allocation of hardware resources isdescribed as follows:

CPUPinning=[“0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7”, “8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15”,“8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15”, “16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23”, “24,25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31”, “24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31”]}

In another embodiment, the NUMI pinning configuration for implementingthe proper CPU to GPU ratio is described as follows:

CPUPinning=[“0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7”, “0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7”, “8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15”, “8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15”, “16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22, 23”, “16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23”, “24, 25, 26, 27,28, 29, 30, 31”, “24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31”]}

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the implementation of multiple GPU capableprocessing boards to provide cloud based virtualized graphics processingfor remote displays. More specifically, FIG. 6 illustrates a networkattached GPU appliance 620 that provides cloud based graphics processingto remote displays. In one embodiment, the GPU appliance 620 providesgraphics processing in a PC emulated environment, and as such the GPUappliance 620 acts a visual computing appliance (VCA).

As shown in FIG. 6, the VCA 620 includes one or more GRID systemarchitectures or processing boards 610. For instance, the GRIDarchitectures 610 are similar in function configuration as the GRIDsystem architectures 500A and 500B, generally described in FIGS. 5A-B,respectively. Specifically, the GRID architecture 610 includes a dualCPU sockets 615. In one implementation, each CPU socket is configured toprovide electrical connections between a microprocessor providing CPUcapabilities and an underlying board. A multi-core processor iscommunicatively coupled to each of the CPU sockets, in one embodiment.In addition, the dual socket GRID architecture 610 includes multiple GPUboards including one or more graphics processors (not shown) providing aplurality of GPU processors and/or chipsets coupled to the CPU sockets615. That is, each of the GPU boards are coupled to a corresponding CPUsocket through a communication bus interface.

So far, the VCA 620 and the GPU architecture 610 are implemented belowline A-A, which is intended to separate the hardware from the softwarelayer when implementing cloud based virtualized graphics processing forremote displays. As such, above line A-A, a cloud computing platform 630is shown that creates and manages a plurality of virtual machines, eachof which is designed to provide high power graphics processing. Thecloud computing platform 630 provides the same services and features asthe cloud systems 450A-N of FIG. 4B. In one embodiment, the virtualmachines created and managed at the cloud computing platform layer 630act as PC emulators which take instruction commands from end user clientdevices (e.g., thin clients), processes the instructions, and thenretunes the results back to the thin client.

The cloud computing platform 630 may take on many forms, as representedto client devices. For example, layer 640 indicates that the cloudcomputing platform may be presented as a cluster of computing resources.For example, the cluster may take the form of a data center cluster, ora virtual gaming machine cluster.

TABLE 1 LISTING OF CLAIMS  1. An apparatus for providing graphicsprocessing, comprising:  a dual CPU socket architecture comprising afirst CPU socket and a second CPU socket;  a plurality of GPU boardsproviding a plurality of GPU processors coupled to said first CPU socketand said second CPU socket, wherein each GPU board comprises two or moreof said plurality of GPU processors; and  a communication bus interfacecoupling said first CPU socket to a first subset of one or more GPUboards and said second CPU socket to a second subset of one or more GPUboards.  2. The apparatus of Claim 1, further comprising:  a multi-coreprocessor coupled to said first CPU socket.  3. The apparatus of Claim2, wherein said multi-core processor comprises a XEON E 2670 processorcoupled to said first CPU socket.  4. The apparatus of Claim 1, whereinsaid communication bus interface comprises:  a plurality ofcommunication bridges each coupling a corresponding GPU board to saidfirst CPU socket and said second CPU socket.  5. The apparatus of Claim4, wherein at least one of said communication bridges comprises a PCIebridge.  5. The apparatus of Claim 5, wherein each of said plurality ofGPU boards comprises:  a bridge splitter coupled to a corresponding PCIebridge; and  two or more of said plurality of GPU processors.  6. Theapparatus of Claim 5, wherein said plurality of GPU boards aredistributed across said dual CPU socket architecture symmetrically.  7.The apparatus of Claim 6, further comprising:  a first GPU board and asecond GPU board each coupled to said first CPU socket; and  a third GPUboard and a fourth GPU board each coupled to said second CPU socket; wherein each of said first, second, third, and fourth GPU boardscomprises a two GPU processor configuration.  8. The apparatus of Claim5, wherein said plurality of GPU boards are distributed across said dualCPU socket architecture asymmetrically.  9. The apparatus of Claim 1,further comprising:  a front side bus network coupling said first CPUsocket and said second CPU socket;  10. The apparatus of Claim 1,wherein said front side bus network comprises:  a QPI linkcommunicatively coupling said first CPU socket and said second CPUsocket; and  a single operating system managing CPU processors coupledto said first CPU socket and said second CPU socket as supported by saidQPI link.  11. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein at least one of saidplurality of graphics processors comprises an Nvidia GK107 graphicsprocessor chip.  12. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein a GPU processorsupports a virtual machine in a one-to-one relationship.  13. Theapparatus of Claim 1, further comprising:  a plurality of virtualizedGPU processors supported by said plurality of GPU processors, wherein avirtualized GPU supports a virtual machine.  14. The apparatus of Claim1, wherein said dual CPU socket architecture is configured in a Sandybridge configuration.  15. The apparatus of Claim 1, wherein saidplurality of GPU boards are identical.  16. The apparatus of Claim 1,wherein said dual CPU socket architecture and said plurality of GPUboards support a plurality of virtual machines each comprising portionsof one or more CPU cores and one or more GPU processors.  17. Theapparatus of Claim 1, wherein said dual CPU socket architecture and saidplurality of GPU boards are implemented within a pseudo virtual machinesystem operating under a single operating system and running multipleapplications for one or more end users.  18. A network attached GPUdevice, comprising:  a plurality of processing boards providing aplurality of virtual CPU and GPU processors, wherein each of saidprocessing boards comprises:   a dual CPU socket architecture comprisinga first CPU socket and a  second CPU socket;   a plurality of GPU boardsproviding a plurality of GPU processors  coupled to said first CPUsocket and said second CPU socket, wherein each GPU  board comprises twoor more of said plurality of GPU processors;   a first plurality ofcommunication bridges each coupling a corresponding  GPU board to saidfirst CPU socket and said second CPU socket; and   a communicationinterface coupling said first CPU socket to a first subset  of one ormore GPU boards and said second CPU socket to a second subset of one  ormore GPU boards.  19. The apparatus of Claim 18, wherein each of saidplurality of GPU boards comprises:  a bridge splitter coupled to acorresponding communication bridge; and  two or more of said pluralityof GPU processors.  20. The apparatus of Claim 18, wherein saidplurality of GPU boards are distributed across said dual CPU socketarchitecture symmetrically such that a first GPU board and a second GPUboard each coupled to said first CPU socket and a third GPU board and afourth GPU board each coupled to said second CPU socket, wherein each ofsaid first, second, third, and fourth GPU boards comprises a two GPUprocessor configuration.  21. The network attached GPU device of Claim18, further comprising:  a plurality of computing device emulatorssupported by said plurality of processing boards.Keyframe Detection when Executing an application in a Cloud Based SystemProviding Virtualized Graphics Processing to Remote Servers

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system 700 configured for detecting akeyframe, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.In one embodiment, system 700 is implemented within the graphics system400A of FIG. 4A and/or the architecture 400B of FIG. 4B that isconfigured to implement a cloud based virtualized graphics processingfor remote displays. Detection of a preselected keyframe is critical todetermine when to switch back to streaming video from the applicationafter streaming secondary video, such as, an advertisement.

As shown in FIG. 7, system 700 includes a processor 701 that isconfigured for initializing an instantiation of an application. In oneembodiment, the processor 701 is a virtual machine that is supported bycloud based graphics processing system that provides, in part,virtualized graphics rendering and processing for remote displays. Theapplication that is instantiated within the virtual machine undergoes aloading process in order to initialize the application. In oneembodiment, the loading process includes determining the properconfiguration settings for the virtual machine when executing theapplication. The configuration settings may take into account theresource capabilities of the virtual machine, as well as the resourcecapabilities of the end client device.

System 700 includes a graphics renderer 705 for performing graphicsrendering to generate a plurality of frames forming the basis of a firstvideo stream. The graphics rendering is performed through execution ofthe application, wherein the first video stream comprises the pluralityof frames.

In one embodiment, optionally the system 700 includes a videoencoder/decoder 710 that encodes the rendered video into a compressedformat before delivering encoded video stream to a remote display. Inthe present embodiment, the encoded video frame is used to detect akeyframe.

System 700 also includes an application signature generator that isconfigured for generating the master signature associated with apreselected rendered keyframe of the application that is used todetermine when an instantiation of the executed application has reachedthe same keyframe, as will be described more fully below in relation toFIGS. 8A-B. In particular, the application signature is generated byaccessing a master bitmap from a corresponding frame associated withsaid keyframe from a master video stream. In one embodiment, the masterbitmap is hashed using a hashing algorithm to generate a hashed keyframebitmap, which comprises the application signature of the application.

System 700 includes a frame buffer 725 for receiving in sequence aplurality of frames associated with the first video stream. In oneembodiment, the graphics rendering is performed by the virtual machinein the cloud based graphics rendering system, wherein the video streamof rendered video is then delivered to a remote display. The framebuffer comprises one or more frame buffers configured to receive therendered video frame. For example, a graphics pipeline may output itsrendered video to a corresponding frame buffer. In a parallel system,each pipeline of a multi-pipeline graphics processor will output itsrendered video to a corresponding frame buffer.

System 700 includes a comparator 730 that is configured for determiningwhen a first bitmap of a frame is loaded into a corresponding framebuffer matches an application signature comprising a derivative of amaster bitmap associated with a keyframe of said first video stream.

FIGS. 8A-B in combination illustrate a method for executing anapplication and determining when a predetermined keyframe is rendered inthat execution. Keyframe detection is critical for many reasons, one ofwhich includes understanding when to switch between a first video streamgenerated from the execution of the application and a second videostream that provides other information, possibly unrelated to theapplication (e.g., advertisements, etc.).

In particular, FIG. 8A is a flow diagram 800A illustrating a method fordetecting a keyframe during execution of an application on a virtualmachine supported by a cloud computing platform providing virtualizedgraphics processing for remote displays, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure. In still another embodiment, flowdiagram 800A illustrates a computer implemented method for detecting akeyframe during execution of an application on a virtual machinesupported by a cloud computing platform providing virtualized graphicsprocessing for remote displays. In another embodiment, flow diagram 800Ais implemented within a computer system including a processor and memorycoupled to the processor and having stored therein instructions that, ifexecuted by the computer system causes the system to execute a methodfor detecting a keyframe during execution of an application on a virtualmachine supported by a cloud computing platform providing virtualizedgraphics processing for remote displays. In still another embodiment,instructions for performing a method as outlined in flow diagram 800Aare stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-executable instructions for causing a computer system toperform a method for detecting a keyframe during execution of anapplication on a virtual machine supported by a cloud computing platformproviding virtualized graphics processing for remote displays. Inembodiments, the method outlined in flow diagram 800A is implementableby one or more components of the computer system 100 and client device200 of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, as well as system 700 of FIG. 7.

At 850, the method includes initializing an instantiation of anapplication. For instance, when a virtual machine is instantiated withina cloud based virtual graphics processing platform at the request of anend user, an application (e.g., a gaming application) is instantiated.That is, the end user is requesting to play in the application, and thecloud based virtual graphics processing platform creates a virtualmachine for executing the application. Initialization of the applicationloads the application within the virtual machine, and can include anysequence of operations that may or may not generate an output videostream. For example, some applications will display a rotating hourglassover a blank or darkened screen while loading the application.

In one embodiment, the cloud based virtual graphics processing platformstreams a second video stream to the end user while the application isloading. The second video stream is not part of the application. Forinstance, the second video stream includes additional information, suchas, advertisements, notifications, etc. At a predetermined moment, thegraphics processing platform discontinues streaming the second videostream and switches back to the video stream generated by theapplication. Embodiments of the present invention provide for detectionof a specific and predetermined keyframe that indicates when to switchback to the video stream generated by the application.

At 855, the method includes performing graphics rendering on a pluralityof rendered frames through execution of the application. A first videostream that is generated comprises the plurality of rendered frames.FIG. 8B is an information flow diagram 800B illustrating the process fordetecting a keyframe, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As shown, execution of application within any processor,including a processor of a virtual machine, includes sendinginstructions to a virtual GPU 415, which was previously described inrelation to virtual GVUs 415A-M of FIG. 4B. For instance, GPU 415 can beany of the virtual GPUs 415A-M. The GPU 415 outputs rendered frames insequential order, as executed in one or more graphics pipelines. Forinstance, GPU 415 generates frames 1-N.

At 865, the method includes determining when a first bitmap of a framethat is loaded into a corresponding frame buffer matches an applicationsignature. As shown in FIG. 8B, a shader module performs the comparisonbetween the bitmap of a rendered frame from the executed application anda master bitmap, which forms the application signature 820. For example,once a rendered frame (e.g., frame 1) is generated by the GPU 415, andits corresponding bit map loaded into a corresponding frame buffer, therendered frame or its associated bitmap is inputted to the shader 830A,and compared against an application signature 820 that is specific tothat application and also inputted into the shader 830A. The shader 830Aperforms the comparison between the application signature 820 and theassociated bitmap information loaded into frame buffer 1.

Preliminarily, the application signature is generated from a master copyof the application, in one embodiment. In particular, in one embodiment,the application signature comprises a derivative of a master bitmap thatis associated with a keyframe of the first video stream. That is, amaster application is executed and includes a plurality of master framesthat are rendered. One of the rendered frames is selected from a mastervideo stream as the keyframe. For example, the keyframe may be aspecific scene, or a specific logo that is rendered at a consistentmoment in the execution, initialization, and/or loading of anyinstantiation of the application. The master bitmap of the keyframe thatis loaded into a frame buffer for display is then manipulated to form aderivative of the master keyframe and forms the application signature.For instance, generation of the application signature includes accessinga master bit map, and performing a hashing algorithm on the masterbitmap to generated a hashed keyframe bitmap. The hashed keyframe bitmapnow comprises the application signature 820 of the application. In anysubsequent instantiation of the application, with the propermanipulation of each of the frames rendered (e.g., performing a hash),embodiments of the present invention are able to determine when arendered frame, modified or unmodified, matches the keyframe, or aderivative of the keyframe.

When determining if there is a match between the rendered frame and themaster keyframe, the method includes accessing a first bitmap of theframe that is loaded into the corresponding frame buffer. This firstbitmap is generated during the execution of the application instantiatedin a corresponding virtual machine, for example. Whatever manipulationwas performed on the master keyframe or master keyframe bitmap is alsoperformed on the first bitmap. For instance, if the master keyframebitmap was hashed in order to generated the application signature, thenthe method includes performing a hashing algorithm on the first bitmapto generate a hashed first bitmap. Of course, rather than performing ahash algorithm, other manipulations may be performed in otherembodiments.

Continuing with the example where the master keyframe bitmap is hashedto generate an application signature, the method includes comparing thehashed keyframe bitmap (e.g., application signature) and the hashedfirst bitmap to determine if there is a match. In one embodiment, thereis a tolerance in the hashing algorithm in that the first bitmap and themaster bitmap of the keyframe can be within a tolerance. As long as theyare within the tolerance (e.g., 95 percent matching), then thesubsequent hashes that are generated from the master bitmap and thefirst bitmap are matched.

The method includes determining when the application as executed reachesthe keyframe. This occurs when it is determined that the hashed keyframeand the hashed first bitmap map, as previously described. In oneembodiment, determining when the application reaches the keyframe isused to switch between video streams. In that case, when a match isdetermined, a notification of the match is delivered up the softwarestack responsible for delivery of encoded video to the client device sothat a switch can be made. For instance, while the application isloading, the method includes sending a second video stream to a clientdevice of the requesting end user for display. The second video streamincludes information unrelated to the application and/or isindependently generated from the application. In one example, the secondvideo stream includes an advertisement.

As such, when the executed application reaches a point where a renderedframe matches the keyframe, this indicates that the application that isinstantiated has also reached the keyframe. In that manner, the methodincludes switching to the first video stream upon detection of thekeyframe, wherein the first video stream is the plurality of renderedvideo (encoded or not encoded) generated by the application. Also, themethod includes sending the first video stream to the client device, andsuspending delivery of the second video stream (e.g., advertisement). Inone embodiment, the first video stream is delivered beginning with theframe that matches the keyframe to the client device for display. Inanother embodiment, the first video stream is delivered beginning with aframe after a frame that matches the keyframe to the client device fordisplay.

TABLE 2 LISTING OF CLAIMS  1. A non-transitory computer readable mediumhaving computer executable instructions for causing a computer system toperform a method for switching, comprising:  initializing aninstantiation of an application;  performing graphics rendering togenerate a plurality of rendered frames through execution of saidapplication in order to generate a first video stream comprising saidplurality of rendered frames;  sequentially loading said plurality ofrendered frames into one or more frame buffers; and  determining when afirst bitmap of a frame that is loaded into a corresponding frame buffermatches an application signature comprising a derivative of a masterbitmap associated with a keyframe of said first video stream.  2. Thecomputer readable medium of Claim 1, wherein said initializing aninstantiation of an application in said method comprises:  initializingsaid instantiation of said application on a virtual machine of a cloudbased graphics processing system for an end user.  3. The computerreadable medium of Claim 1, wherein in said method said applicationcomprises a gaming application.  4. The computer readable medium ofClaim 1, wherein said method further comprises:  sending a second videostream to a client device of said end user for display;  switching tosaid first video stream upon detection of said keyframe; and  sendingsaid first video stream beginning with said frame that matches saidkeyframe to said client device for display.  5. The computer readablemedium of Claim 4, wherein in said method said second video streamcomprises an advertisement.  6. The computer readable medium of Claim 1,wherein said method further comprising:  sending a second video streamto a client device of said end user for display;  switching to saidfirst video stream upon detection of said keyframe; and  sending saidfirst video stream beginning with a frame after a frame that isassociated with said keyframe to said client device for display.  7. Thecomputer readable medium of Claim 1, wherein said method furthercomprises:  selecting said keyframe that is take from a master videostream of a master copy of said application for purposes of generatingsaid application signature.  8. The computer readable medium of Claim 7,wherein said determining when a first bitmap in said method furthercomprises:  accessing a master bitmap from a corresponding frameassociated with said keyframe from said master video stream; and performing a hashing algorithm on said master bitmap to generate ahashed keyframe bitmap comprising said application signature of saidapplication.  9. The computer readable medium of Claim 8, wherein saidmethod further comprises:  accessing a first bitmap of said frame thatis loaded into a corresponding frame buffer;  performing said hashingalgorithm on said first bitmap to generate a hashed first bitmap; comparing said hashed keyframe and said hashed first bitmap todetermine if they match; and  determining when said application asexecuted reaches said keyframe when said hashed keyframe and said hashedfirst bitmap match.  10. A computer system comprising:  a processor; and memory coupled to said processor and having stored therein instructionsthat, if executed by a computer system, causes said computer system toexecute a method for switching, comprising:  initializing aninstantiation of an application;  performing graphics rendering togenerate a plurality of rendered frames through execution of saidapplication in order to generate a first video stream comprising saidplurality of frames;  sequentially loading said plurality of renderedframes into one or more frame buffers; and  determining when a firstbitmap of a rendered frame that is loaded into a corresponding framebuffer matches an application signature comprising a derivative of amaster bitmap associated with a keyframe of said first video stream. 11. The computer system of Claim 10, wherein said initializing aninstantiation of an application in said method comprises:  initializingsaid instantiation of said application on a virtual machine of a cloudbased graphics processing system for an end user.  12. The computersystem of Claim 10, wherein in said method said application comprises agaming application.  13. The computer system of Claim 10, wherein saidmethod further comprises:  sending a second video stream to a clientdevice of said end user for display;  switching to said first videostream upon detection of said keyframe; and  sending said first videostream beginning with said frame that matches said keyframe to saidclient device for display.  14. The computer system of Claim 13, whereinin said method said second video stream comprises an advertisement.  15.The computer system of Claim 10, wherein said method further comprising: sending a second video stream to a client device of said end user fordisplay;  switching to said first video stream upon detection of saidkeyframe; and  sending said first video stream beginning with a frameafter a frame that is associated with said keyframe to said clientdevice for display.  16. The computer system of Claim 10, wherein saidmethod further comprises:  selecting said keyframe that is take from amaster video stream of a master copy of said application for purposes ofgenerating said application signature.  17. The computer system of Claim16, wherein said determining when a first bitmap in said method furthercomprises:  accessing a master bitmap from a corresponding frameassociated with said keyframe from said master video stream; and performing a hashing algorithm on said master bitmap to generate ahashed keyframe bitmap comprising said application signature of saidapplication.  18. The computer system of Claim 17, wherein said methodfurther comprises:  accessing a first bitmap of said frame that isloaded into a corresponding frame buffer;  performing said hashingalgorithm on said first bitmap to generate a hashed first bitmap; comparing said hashed keyframe and said hashed first bitmap todetermine if they match; and  determining when said application asexecuted reaches said keyframe when said hashed keyframe and said hashedfirst bitmap match.  19. A system for switching, comprising:  aprocessor configured for initializing an instantiation of anapplication;  a graphics renderer configured for performing graphicsrendering on a plurality of frames to generate a first video streamthrough execution of said application, wherein said first video streamcomprises said plurality of frames;  a frame buffer configured forreceiving in sequence a plurality of frames associated with said firstvideo stream;  a comparator configured for determining when a firstbitmap of a frame is loaded into a corresponding frame buffer matches anapplication signature comprising a derivative of a master bitmapassociated with a keyframe of said first video stream.  20. The systemof Claim 19, further comprising:  a cloud based graphics processingsystem;  a virtual machine of said cloud based graphics processingsystem, wherein said virtual machine is configured for executing saidapplication.

Fast Cloning of Virtual Machines

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a resource generation system 900 configuredto generate new virtual machines using a template virtual machine andcustomizing each instantiation of a virtual machine with user specificdata, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.System 900 is implementable within the cloud architecture 400B of FIG.4B and is used to generate new virtual machines. In one embodiment, theresource generation system 900 is configured within the VM Host Manager462 of the GM server 461A.

As shown, system 900 includes a fast cloning module 910 that isconfigured to generate a new instantiation of a virtual machine. Inparticular, fast cloning module 910 creates a new virtual machine from atemplate virtual machine. The new virtual machine is customized to aparticular user by modifying the template with updates. In that manner,instead of storing a whole image of the customized virtual machine, onlythe updates that are custom to the requesting user need be stored. Theupdates are then used to modify the template to generate a newinstantiation of a virtual machine that is customized to the end user.

System 900 also includes an application loader 920. In one embodiment,an end user accessing the cloud based service that provides virtualizedgraphics processing for remote servers is interested in executing anapplication. The virtual machine is instantiated in order to executethat application. For instance, a cloud based graphics processingplatform may be created to provide a cloud based gaming experience,wherein gaming applications are stored and executed for the cloud basedplatform. End users typically would request to play a specific gamingapplication, and a virtual machine is instantiated to support thatrequest to play the gaming application. As such, in response to arequest to play a gaming application by an end user, virtual machine isinstantiated and the gaming application is loaded by the applicationloader for execution within the virtual machine.

System 900 also includes independent and persistent storage 930. Inparticular, the updates and/or information related to the end user isstored in storage 930. That information is then used to customize atemplate virtual machine when creating a instantiation of a virtualmachine that is customized to a particular end user. For instance, theinformation may include user profile information, and game save files orapplication save files, wherein the application save file providesinformation related to the interactions of the user with the particularapplication (e.g., game status, etc.). As such, with the storing of theupdates and/or user related information, an instantiation or image of avirtual machine and application specific to a user need not bepersisted, and the instantiation of the virtual machine may beextinguished. This provides an added benefit, since each newinstantiation of a virtual machine starts from a pristine, templatevirtual machine that is free from bugs and viruses, and need only beupdated with information related to a requesting end user (e.g., updatesand/or user profile information).

System 900 also includes a provision/allocation manager 940. In oneembodiment, the manager 940 performs similar functionality as provisionmanager 470 of FIG. 4B. Specifically, provision/allocation manager 940is configured to allocate resources to a newly instantiated virtualmachine. In one embodiment, the provision/allocation manager 940includes a resource throttler 945 that is configured to reduce and/orthrottle the amount of resources originally allocated to the virtualmachine upon initialization in order to reduce any adverse affects uponexisting and operational virtual machines. After initialization, theresource alignment module 947 is configured to increase the resourceswithin the virtual machine until the original allocation of resources ismet.

FIG. 10A is a flow chart 1000A illustrating a method for resourcegeneration for a new instantiation of a virtual machine providing cloudbased virtualized graphics processing for a remote display, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In stillanother embodiment, flow diagram 1000A illustrates a computerimplemented method for resource generation for a new instantiation of avirtual machine providing cloud based virtualized graphics processingfor a remote display. In another embodiment, flow diagram 1000A isimplemented within a computer system including a processor and memorycoupled to the processor and having stored therein instructions that, ifexecuted by the computer system causes the system to execute a methodfor resource generation for a new instantiation of a virtual machineproviding cloud based virtualized graphics processing for a remotedisplay. In still another embodiment, instructions for performing amethod as outlined in flow diagram 1000A are stored on a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructionsfor causing a computer system to perform a method for resourcegeneration for a new instantiation of a virtual machine providing cloudbased virtualized graphics processing for a remote display. Inembodiments, the method outlined in flow diagram 1000A is implementableby one or more components of the computer system 100 and client device200 of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, as well as the resource generationsystem 900 of FIG. 9.

At 1010, the method includes creating a template virtual machine. Thetemplate is used for cloning additional virtual machines. At 1015, themethod includes creating an instantiation of a virtual machine for arequesting end user by cloning the template virtual machine. Inparticular, the cloning operation is efficient in that, in a customizedinstantiation of a virtual machine related to an end user, onlymodifications to the template need be stored and not the entire image ofthe virtual machine. The update information is then used to modify thetemplate to create an instantiation of the virtual machine that iscustomized to the end user. In one embodiment, the update informationincludes user profile information, and application save file data, aspreviously described. For instance, in a gaming application, the “savegame” file data includes information related to the progress of a playerwithin the game as executed by the gaming application.

In one embodiment, the virtual machine is initialized in a cloud basedgraphics process system for the requesting end user. For example, thevirtual machine may be instantiated within the architecture 400B of FIG.4B. Furthermore, in a cloud based gaming platform that providesvirtualized graphics processing for remote displays, the templatevirtual machine comprises a plurality of pre-selected gamingapplications that are available to each of a plurality of end users.That is, the template already contains full copies of every gamingapplication. In that manner, the user need only access the platform, andrequest a supported gaming application, and begin playing that gamingapplication through a corresponding virtual machine.

At 1020, the method includes loading an application executed by thevirtual machine. For instance, the end user may be accessing theplatform to use a particular application, such as, video generationsoftware. In the gaming environment, the end user is typically accessingthe cloud based platform to play a gaming application. As such, afterthe instantiation of the virtual machine, the particular application, asrequested by the end user is loaded onto the virtual machine, and thenexecuted.

At 1025, the method includes accessing first information that isassociated with the end user. That first information is used tocustomize the virtual machine and the instantiation of the gamingapplication as executed within the virtual machine. In one embodiment,the first information is used to modify the template virtual machine inorder to customize it for the end user. For instance, as previouslydescribed, the first information includes “game save” information,and/or user profile information.

At 1030, the method includes loading the first information into aninstantiation of the application. For instance, “game save” informationassociated with the application is accessed and used to bring the userto his or her last updated version of an instantiation of theapplication. In a gaming environment, the application is updated to thelast, qualified location for the end user, or the role player associatedwith the end user.

The generation of a virtual machine from a template assures that the newinstantiation of the virtual machine originates from a pristine source.As such, no viruses should reside within any new instantiation of avirtual machine, as long as no viruses have entered the user profileinformation and/or the update information. In that manner, virtualmachines are not persisted when the user session ends. In particular,the method includes receiving an instruction to terminate theinstantiation of the virtual machine. At that time, information specificto and associated with the end user is updated (e.g., a “save game” fileis updated) and stored in a storage system that is independent of thevirtual machine. This is necessary since the instantiation of thevirtual machine will be terminated. The information specific to andassociated with the end user is then used the next time a virtualmachine is requested by the end user.

FIG. 10B is a flow chart 1000B illustrating a method for throttling theallocation of resources when generating a new virtual machine to lessenits impact on the operations of existing virtual machines, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, thegeneration of the virtual machine to include the allocation of resourcemay provide a noticeable load on existing virtual machines that arecurrently executing applications. That load affects the execution ofon-going applications, and may negatively reduce the overall gamingexperience of those end users. As such, flow chart 1000B provides amethod for reducing the affect on the operation of existing virtualmachines when instantiating a virtual machine for an end user.

At 1050, the method includes determining an original allocation of aplurality of resources for the instantiation of the virtual machine.That is, the virtual machine comprises a plurality of resources, each ofwhich is originally assigned an original allocation. For example,resources may include CPU processor cores, memory etc. For illustration,a virtual machine may be originally allocated eight GPU processor cores.

At 1055, the method includes reducing the original allocation of theplurality of resources. In one embodiment, the reduction is such thatthe reduced allocation is less than twenty-five percent of the originalallocation. In a further embodiment, the reduction is performed for eachof the different resources, and in one implementation the reduction isperformed equally across all the different resources. That is, each ofthe resources is reduced in an corresponding amount to less thantwenty-five percent of the original allocation of a correspondingresource. At 1060, the method includes initializing the virtual machineusing the reduced allocation of the plurality of resources.

After the virtual machine is instantiated, additional resourceallocation must be performed to bring the virtual machine up to itsintended capabilities. As such, at 1065, the method includes allocatingadditional resources for each of the plurality of resources. Theresources are allocated such that additional allocation of resources ifmade to the plurality of resources so that the allocation of resourcereaches the original allocation.

TABLE 3 LISTING OF CLAIMS  1. A method for network cloud resourcegeneration, comprising:  creating a template virtual machine;  creatingan instantiation of a virtual machine for an end user by cloning saidtemplate;  loading an application executed by said virtual machine; accessing first information associated with said end user; and  loadingsaid first information in an instantiation of said application.  2. Themethod of Claim 1, wherein said template virtual machine comprises aplurality of pre-selected gaming applications available to each of aplurality of end users.  3. The method of Claim 1, wherein saidaccessing first information comprises:  accessing a saved game fileassociated with said application.  4. The method of Claim 1, whereinsaid accessing first information comprises:  accessing a user profile ofsaid user.  5. The method of Claim 1, further comprising:  receiving aninstruction to terminate said instantiation of said virtual machine; and storing an updated version of said specific information associated withsaid user in a storage system independent of said virtual machine.  6.The method of Claim 1, wherein said creating an instantiation of avirtual machine comprises:  determining an original allocation of aplurality of resources for said instantiation of said virtual machine; reducing said original allocation of said plurality of resources; and initializing said virtual machine using said reduced allocation of saidplurality of resources.  7. The method of Claim 6, wherein said reducingsaid original allocation comprises:  reducing said original allocationfor each of said plurality of resources.  8. The method of Claim 7,wherein said reducing said original allocation comprises:  allocatingeach of said plurality of resources at an amount that is less thantwenty- five percent of a corresponding original allocation.  9. Themethod of Claim 6, further comprising:  after said virtual machine isinstantiated, allocating additional resources for each of said pluralityof resources to reach said original allocation.  10. The method of Claim1, wherein said initializing said virtual machine further comprises: initializing said instantiation of said virtual machine in a cloudbased graphics processing system for an end user.  11. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium having computer executable instructions forcausing a computer system to perform a method for network cloud resourcegeneration, comprising:  creating a template virtual machine;  creatingan instantiation of a virtual machine for an end user by cloning saidtemplate;  loading an application executed by said virtual machine; accessing specific information associated with said end user; and loading said specific information in an instantiation of saidapplication.  12. The computer readable medium of Claim 11, wherein insaid method said template virtual machine comprises a plurality ofpre-selected gaming applications available to each of a plurality of endusers.  13. The computer readable medium of Claim 11, wherein saidaccessing first information in said method comprises:  accessing a savedgame file associated with said application; and  accessing a userprofile of said user.  14. The computer readable medium of Claim 11,wherein said creating an instantiation of a virtual machine in saidmethod comprises:  determining an original allocation of a plurality ofresources for an instantiation of a virtual machine;  reducing saidoriginal allocation of said plurality of resources; and  initializingsaid virtual machine using said reduced allocation of said plurality ofresources.  15. The computer readable medium of Claim 11, wherein saidmethod further comprises:  after said virtual machine is instantiated,allocating additional resources for each of said plurality of resourcesto reach said original allocation.  16. The computer readable medium ofClaim 14, wherein said plurality of resources comprises a number of CPUcores, and an amount of memory.  17. A computer system comprising:  aprocessor; and  memory coupled to said processor and having storedtherein instructions that, if executed by a computer system, causes saidcomputer system to execute a method for network cloud resourcegeneration, comprising:  creating a template virtual machine;  creatingan instantiation of a virtual machine for an end user by cloning saidtemplate;  loading an application executed by said virtual machine; accessing specific information associated with said end user; and loading said specific information in an instantiation of saidapplication.  18. The computer system of Claim 17, wherein in saidmethod said template virtual machine comprises a plurality ofpre-selected gaming applications available to each of a plurality of endusers.  19. The computer system of Claim 17, wherein said creating aninstantiation of a virtual machine in said method comprises: determining an original allocation of a plurality of resources for saidinstantiation of said virtual machine;  reducing said originalallocation of said plurality of resources; and  initializing saidvirtual machine using said reduced allocation of said plurality ofresources.  20. The computer system of Claim 17, wherein said methodfurther comprises:  after said virtual machine is instantiated,allocating additional resources for each of said plurality of resourcesuntil reaching said original allocation.

Windows Management to Reduce Exposure of a Desktop Operating SystemDisplayed on a Front Window

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a system 1100 capable of performingwindows management on a remote display for purposes of minimizingexposure of a desktop operating system on a front window of the remotedisplay, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.System 1100 is implementable within the cloud architecture 400B of FIG.4B and is used to monitor output video of corresponding virtual machinesto ensure that an application, as requested by a corresponding end user,is displayed on a front window of a display, and that display and/ormessages of a desktop of an underlying operating system is rendered onone or more rear windows. In one embodiment, the system 1100 capable ofwindows management is configured within a game agent 456A of aninstantiation of a virtual machine.

As shown in FIG. 11, system 1100 includes a cloud based graphicsprocessing system 1110 that provides virtualized graphics processing forremote displays. More particularly, system 1110 is capable ofconfiguring a plurality of virtual machines for a plurality of end usersthrough corresponding terminals (e.g., thin clients, etc.). For example,an instantiation of a virtual machine acts includes an operating systemthat is used to execute application instructions on the resourcesavailable and assigned to the virtual machine. In one embodiment, eachof the virtual machines run on an Windows® operating system, though theymay be configured and held out as gaming platforms.

The system 1100 includes a virtual machine 1120 that is instantiated orimplemented through the cloud based graphics processing system. Thevirtual machine executes an application that is typically selected by anend user for interaction. That is, the end user beings a gaming sessionwith the cloud based graphics processing system with the intention ofplaying a cloud based gaming application through a correspondinginstantiation of a virtual machine. The virtual machine while executingthe application generates a video stream that comprises rendered imagesfor display. The rendered video is ultimately encoded and streamed to aremote display for viewing by one or more end users.

The system 1100 includes an application management module 1130 that isconfigured for ensuring that information being displayed in a frontwindow of a remote display is within an application context related tothe application being executed. Specifically, a monitor 1140 isconfigured to monitor the front buffer to detect when video informationstored in the front buffer is outside of the application context.Information retrieved or read from the front buffer is scanned out forimmediate display.

When the video information contained within the front buffer is outsideof the application context, a mitigation nodule 1150 is configured totaking an action that mitigates an effect of the video information beingdisplayed. For instance, the video information that is outside of theapplication context may be an operating system message or desktop, asinitiated by an end user (e.g., entering a command sequence, such as,ALT-ENTER), or directly through the workings of the operating system.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart 1200 illustrating a method for performingwindows management on a remote display for purposes of minimizingexposure of a desktop operating system on a front window of the remotedisplay, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Instill another embodiment, flow diagram 1200 illustrates a computerimplemented method for performing windows management on a remote displayfor purposes of minimizing exposure of a desktop operating system on afront window of the remote display. In another embodiment, flow diagram1200 is implemented within a computer system including a processor andmemory coupled to the processor and having stored therein instructionsthat, if executed by the computer system causes the system to execute amethod for performing windows management on a remote display forpurposes of minimizing exposure of a desktop operating system on a frontwindow of the remote display. In still another embodiment, instructionsfor performing a method as outlined in flow diagram 1200 are stored on anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-executable instructions for causing a computer system toperform a method for performing windows management on a remote displayfor purposes of minimizing exposure of a desktop operating system on afront window of the remote display. In embodiments, the method outlinedin flow diagram 1200 is implementable by one or more components of thecomputer system 100 and client device 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2,respectively, as well as the system 1100 capable of windows managementof FIG. 11.

At 1210, the method includes executing an application in a virtualmachine that is implemented through a cloud based graphics processingsystem. For example, the cloud based system is implemented through thearchitecture 400B of FIG. 4B that is configured to provide a pluralityof virtual machines to a plurality of end users, wherein each of thevirtual machines are fully operational computing system functioningunder an operating system, such as, the Windows® operating system. Inone implementation, the cloud based graphics processing system is agaming platform where end users enter to play gaming applications thatare stored and instantiated within the gaming platform, through acorresponding virtual machine.

During execution of the application by the virtual machine, a videostream is generated that comprises rendered images for display. At 1220,the method includes directing the video stream of the application to afront buffer of the corresponding virtual machine, wherein informationfrom the front buffer is fetched and scanned out for presentation on aremote display. By directing the video stream to the front buffer, thisensures that the video stream is displayed on a front window of theremote display. This is important for the cloud based graphicsprocessing system that is acting, for example, as a gaming platform. Bydirecting the gaming application to the front window or forward mostwindow, the end user's gaming experience is enhanced, as the user isimmersed entirely within a gaming environment—front and center.Moreover, the end user is not confronted with any exposure to theunderlying operating system (e.g., desktop, error messages, etc.). In afurther embodiment, the front window is maximized so that the videostream is displayed on a full screen of the remote display. In oneimplementation, the directing of the video stream to the front buffer,and maximizing the front window is accomplished through execution ofapplication programming interface (API) calls.

At 1230, the method includes monitoring the front buffer to detect whenvideo information stored in the front buffer is outside of theapplication context. That is, instead of information related to thevideo stream of the application running on the virtual machine, thefront buffer is loaded with other video information that is outside theapplication context. As an example, the video information may beoperating system specific and includes responses to user initiatedoperating system command sequences. For instance, some illustrations ofcommand sequences include ALT-TAB, which brings the operating systemdesktop to the front window; or ALT-ENTER, which minimizes the frontwindow; or CTL-ALT-DELETE, which reboots the system. Each of thesecommands present a window containing information that is not within theapplication context, and may include dialogue or messaging, or secondaryvideo (e.g., desktop).

In another embodiment, the video information includes a frozen screen.That is, the application may have crashed and is not sending the videostream to the remote display. The method includes detecting when thegaming application has crashed. This is accomplished by detecting whenthe video stream has ended. In that case, the remote display may belocked onto one image for display. Again, this is not a desired gamingexperience, and embodiments of the present invention can detect andtaking action to mitigate this negative gaming experience.

At 1240, the method includes taking an action to mitigate an effect ofthe video information being displayed that is outside of the applicationcontext. In one embodiment, the mitigating action is selected by itsability to minimize the exposure of an operating system desktop,message, or any other communicating form in the front window.

In one embodiment, the video information is an operating system messageor video that is forced to the front window. A mitigating actionincludes executing an API call to force a rendering of the video streamback to the front buffer, and as such, rendered images from the videostream are again stored in the front buffer ready for display. In oneembodiment, the mitigating action includes ignoring the videoinformation that is outside of the application context, and suppressingdelivery of the video information to the display.

In another embodiment, as a last resort, the virtual machine session isterminated. For example, the application has crashed and cannot berebooted within the virtual machine instantiation. As such, themitigating action includes terminating a user session that implementsthe virtual machine, and reinitializing another virtual machine toexecute another instantiation of the gaming application.

TABLE 4 LISTING OF CLAIMS  1. A non-transitory computer readable mediumhaving computer executable instructions for causing a computer system toperform a method for window management, wherein said method comprises: executing an application in a virtual machine implemented through acloud based graphics processing system, wherein said applicationgenerates a video stream comprising rendered images for display; directing said video stream of said application to a front buffer sothat an application context comprising said video stream is displayed ona front window of a corresponding display;  monitoring said front bufferto detect when video information stored in said front buffer is outsideof said application context; and  taking an action to mitigate an effectof said video information being displayed that is outside of saidapplication context.  2. The computer readable medium of Claim 1,wherein said method further comprises:  executing an API call tomaximize said front window of said corresponding display.  3. Thecomputer readable medium of Claim 1, where said taking an action in saidmethod comprises:  executing an API call to force a rendering of saidvideo stream back to said front buffer.  4. The computer readable mediumof Claim 1, wherein said monitoring said front buffer in said methodcomprises:  detecting when said gaming application has crashed bydetermining that said video stream has ended;  terminating a usersession implementing said virtual machine; and  reinitializing anothervirtual machine to execute another instantiation of said gamingapplication.  5. The computer readable medium of Claim 1, wherein saidtaking an action in said method comprises:  minimizing exposure of awindows desktop in said front window.  6. The computer readable mediumof Claim 1, wherein said taking an action in said method comprises: ignoring said video information that is outside of said applicationcontext; and  suppress delivery of said video information to saiddisplay.  7. The computer readable medium of Claim 1, wherein in saidmethod said video information is generated from a user initiatedWindows ® operating system command sequence.  8. The computer readablemedium of Claim 1, wherein in said method said application comprises agaming application.  9. A computer system comprising:  a processor; and memory coupled to said processor and having stored therein instructionsthat, if executed by a computer system, causes said computer system toexecute a method for window management, wherein said method comprises: executing an application in a virtual machine implemented through acloud based graphics processing system, wherein said applicationgenerates a video stream comprising rendered images for display; directing said video stream of said application to a front buffer sothat an application context comprising said video stream is displayed ona front window of a corresponding display;  monitoring said front bufferto detect when video information stored in said front buffer is outsideof said application context; and  taking an action to mitigate an effectof said video information that is outside of said application context. 10. The computer system of Claim 9, wherein said method furthercomprises:  executing an API call to maximize said front window of saidcorresponding display.  11. The computer system of Claim 9, where saidtaking an action in said method comprises:  executing an API call toforce a rendering of said video stream back to said front buffer.  12.The computer system of Claim 9, wherein said monitoring said frontbuffer in said method comprises:  detecting when said gaming applicationhas crashed by determining that said video stream has ended; terminating a user session implementing said virtual machine; and reinitializing another virtual machine to execute another instantiationof said gaming application.  13. The computer system of Claim 9, whereinsaid taking an action in said method comprises:  minimizing exposure ofa windows desktop in said front window.  14. The computer system ofClaim 9, wherein said taking an action in said method comprises: ignoring said video information that is outside of said applicationcontext; and  suppress delivery of said video information to saiddisplay.  15. The computer system of Claim 9, wherein in said methodsaid video information is generated from a user initiated Windows ®operating system command sequence.  16. The computer system of Claim 9,wherein in said method said application comprises a gaming application. 17. A system for window management, comprising:  a cloud based graphicsprocessing system;  a virtual machine implemented through said cloudbased graphics processing system, wherein said virtual machine executesan application and generates a video stream comprising rendered imagesfor display;  an application management module configured for directingsaid video stream of said application to a front buffer so that anapplication context comprising said video stream is displayed on a frontwindow of a corresponding display, and wherein said applicationmanagement module executes an API call to maximize said front window;  amonitor configured for monitoring said front buffer to detect when videoinformation stored in said front buffer is outside of said applicationcontext; and  a mitigation module configured for taking an action tomitigate an effect of said video information that is outside of saidapplication context.  18. The system of Claim 17, wherein saidmitigation module is configured to execute an API call to force arendering of said video stream back to said front buffer.  19. Thesystem of Claim 17, wherein said monitor is configured for detectingwhen said gaming application has crashed by determining that said videostream has ended; terminating a user session implementing said virtualmachine; and reinitializing another virtual machine to execute anotherinstantiation of said gaming application.  20. The system of Claim 17,wherein said mitigation module is configured for minimizing exposure ofa windows desktop in said front window.

Methods and Systems for Dynamically Allocating Resources to VirtualMachines in a Gaming Platform Providing Cloud Based Virtualized GraphicsProcessing for Remote Displays

FIGS. 13A-O illustrate the implementation of a gaming platform providingcloud based virtualized graphics processing for remote displays, inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The gamingplatform provides a complete gaming experience to connected end users.For instance, the gaming platform provides the necessary CPU and GPUprocessing powers through a corresponding virtual machine, and suppliesa requested gaming application that the end user wants to play. Inessence, end users connect with the gaming platform through usersessions in order to play supported gaming applications. Theillustrations provided in FIGS. 13A-O provide further details andfeatures first illustrated in architecture 400B of FIG. 4B. Though FIG.513A-O refer to gaming applications, it is understood that the cloudbased graphics processing platform is configured to support any type ofapplication.

FIG. 13A is a block diagram of a system 1300A that provides cloud basedgraphics processing to end users, wherein a provision managerinstantiates game seats or virtual machines with end users in gamingsessions, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.The provision manager 1303 coordinates with the client device 1302 toinstantiate a game seat 1301 in relation to a requested application. Theprovision manager 1303 communicates with the Ops Service Layer 1347 todetermine what performance level of game agent is needed for therequested application. Once the virtual machine is instantiated with theoptimal amount of resources for playing the gaming application, theprovision manager 1303 is configured to communicate with theinstantiated game seat or virtual machine 1301 through the game agent1305. The game agent 1305 is configured to instantiate the requestedapplication. The streamer server 1306 communicates with the streamcomponent 1307 on the client side 1302 to stream video data generated byexecuting the gaming application on the game seat 1301 to the clientdevice 1302.

FIG. 13B is a network diagram 1300B illustrating the network connectionsbetween the components of the cloud based graphics processing system400B, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13C is a diagram 1300C illustrating the workflow for a setting up astandard game session between an end client 1302 and a game seat (VM)1301 through a provision manager 1303, in accordance with one embodimentof the present disclosure. As shown, in step 1, a list of games isaccessed. The provision manager 1303 (e.g., bifrost client) gets thelist from a session manager, which in turn may obtain the list from agame datastore. At step 2, a request for game play is made by the clientdevice 1302. At step 3, the request is delivered to the provisionmanager 1303, which coordinates the instantiation of a game seat 1301 inresponse to the request. In particular, at step 4, the provision manager1303 communicates with the service registry 1304 to obtain an availablevirtual machine. The provision manager matches the resource capabilityof the virtual machine that is assigned with the recommended resourcerequired by the requested gaming application to give the end user thebest possible gaming experience. The service registry 1304 manages theplurality of virtual machines, and maintains the status for each of thevirtual machines. As such, the service registry 1304 understands whichvirtual machines are actively used or instantiated, and which virtualmachines are idle and ready to be assigned.

At step 5, the provision manager 1303 communicates with the assignedgame seat 1301 via a game agent 1305. At step 6, handshaking isperformed to instantiate the game seat 1301. At step 7, the game seat1301 installs the gaming application. At step 8, the user session isactive. At step 9, the game seat opens the ports necessary to streamvideo from the gaming application to the end client 1302 via theprovision manager 1303. At step 11, a communication session isestablished between the mjolnir server 1306 at the game seat 1301 andthe mjolnir client 1307 at the end client 1302. The mjolnir serversprovide the encoding and packetization of information. For instance,mjolnir server 1306 is configured to encode and packetize graphics videodata that is generated by the game seat (VM) 1301 through the executionof a gaming application. At step 12, the game seat 1301 starts executionof the gaming application. At step 13, the mjolnir server 1306 startsstreaming the video from the gaming application to the mjolnir client1307 at the client device 1303.

FIG. 13D is a diagram 1300D illustrating the workflow for allocation ofresources (e.g., CPU cores, virtual GPUs, GPUs, memory, etc.) to a gameseat 1301, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.The process outlined in FIG. 13D begins with the generation of a GUIDsessionID, and a request for a gaming application with the ID. Theclient device 1303 communicates with the provision manager 1303. At step2, the session handler thread 1310 in the provision manager 1303 checksto make sure the sessionID is in the active session store (recover ifexists); validates the gaming application, check machine type, addrequest to the REDIS session store and FIFO queue 1313 based on themachine type of the game seat 1301. There is one FIFO queues for eachmachine type of virtual machine. 1312 are At step 3, one of theallocation threads in the game session provision manager (GSPM) 1311 iswoken up. At step 4, the session handler thread 1310 returns the sessionobject to the client device 1303. At step 5, the GSPM thread wakes up;gets a GLOBAL lock on the FIFO Queues (which checks for a deal lock andclears, if found); and reads the first item from each queue. At step 6,the GSPM 1311 allocates the earliest requested session by removing thefirst relevant free/hot seat from the service registry 1304 (throughSIM). At step 7, the allocated session is moved from the FIFO queue 1313to the In-Allocation List, and global lock is released.

In FIG. 13D, at step 8, the GSPM 1311 confirms with the VM Host Managerthat the seat is OK, through the VMHost API: SeatAllocationMessage. Inparticular, at a), the GSPM requests the VM Host Manager 1314; at b) theVM Host Manager 1314 confirms availability of the seat internally (makesure no fence request is outstanding); at c) the VM Host Manager 1314confirms the health of the seat; at d) the VM Host Manager 1314 puts thegame seat 1301 in the allocated bucket on the Service Registry 1304 (viaits own SIM); and at e) the VM Host Manager 1314 replies to the SPM thateverything is OK.

In FIG. 13D, at step 9, the GSPM 1311 allocates the port with ReverseProxy for this game seat 1301. At step 10, the GSPM 1311 handshakes withthe game agent 1305 on the allocated game seat 1301, and passes gameprofile information, ports, etc. at step 11, the game agent 1305 reportsback to the provision manager 1303 on the game agent listener(GA-Listener) thread that the game seat is ready for client connection.

FIG. 13E is a diagram 1300E illustrating the workflow for the release ofa game seat 1301, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. At step 1, the client device 1303 or game agent 1305provides notification that the game application is finished. At step 2,the Session Handler Thread 1310 or the GA Listener Thread in theprovision manager 1303 makes an API call to release the game seat (e.g.,calls “GameSeatProvisionMgr API:release”, which calls the VM HostManager 1314 through another API call (e.g., VMHostAPI:SeatReleaseMessage). At step 3, the VM Host Manager 1314 recyclesthe virtual machine. At step 4, once the virtual machine comes back, theVM Host Manager 1314 puts the virtual machine back into the hot/freebucket on the Service Registry 1304.

FIG. 13F is a diagram 1300F illustrating the workflow for handling anunrecoverable error during a game session, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure. At step 1, the game agent 1305provides notification of an unrecoverable error, or that a game seat1301 BSOD has occurred, or some other series error occurs (e.g.,provision manager times out on game agent communication, etc.). At step2, the provision manager 1303 calls the SPM or game seat provisionmanager 1311 through an API call (e.g., “GameSeatProvisionMgr API:release+error”. At step 3, the SPM 1311 calls the VM Host Manager 1314through an API call (e.g., “VMHost API: fence+release”). At step 4, theVM Host Manager 1314 marks the game seat 1301 as fenced, and performs areset to other appropriate actions. At step 5, the VM Host Manager 1314puts the game seat 1301 back in the appropriate bucket (e.g.,error/fenced) on the Service Registry 1304.

FIG. 13G is a diagram 1300G illustrating the workflow for the allocationof a game seat 1301, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. At step 1, the client device 1303 requests a gamingapplication from the gaming platform, or the cloud based graphicsprocessing system. At step 2, the provision manager 1303 calls the SPM1311 through an API call (e.g., “GameSeatProvisionMgr API: Allocate”).At step 3, the SPM 1311 calls the Service Registry 1304 through theServiceRegistry Interface Module and the SIM API, using the ServiceRegistry Schema. At step 4, the Service Registry 1304 returns a “NO” hotgame seat, which indicates that no game seat is available. At step 5,the SPM 1311 confirms with the VM Host Manager 1314 that the seat is OK,through an API call (e.g., “VMHost API: SeatAllocatoinMessage”): whereinat a) the VM Host Manager 1314 confirms the availability of the seat; atb) the VM Host Manager 1314 puts the seat in t allocated bucket on theService Registry 1304 (via its own SIM); and at c) the VM Host Manager1314 replies to the SPM 1311 that everything is OK. At step 6, theprovision manager 1303 handshakes with the game agent 1305 on theallocated game seat 1301.

FIG. 13H is a diagram 1300H illustrating the workflow for communicationbetween the client device 1303 and the provision manager 1303, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. At step 1, theclient device 1303 makes an initial connection with the provisionmanager 1303 using the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The provisionmanager 1303 responds and performs allocations, etc. At step 2, theclient device 1303 sense a user datagram protocol (UDP) message saying“what is my status?”. This is performed periodically. At step 3, theprovision manager 1303 sends a UDP response with session status. At step4, if there is no DUP response from the provision manager 1303 within acertain number of seconds (e.g., Y), then the client device 1303 willexecute an HTTP call to get a session status.

FIG. 13I is a diagram 1300I illustrating the workflow for a sessionreconnect, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.As shown, upon successful connection between the client device and anexisting game seat, the mjolnir client is relaunched on the clientdevice.

FIG. 13J is a diagram 1300J illustrating the features of a game datastore 1320. The game data store 1320 provides access to a plurality ofgaming applications to the virtual machines in a cloud based graphicsprocessing system (previously described). In particular, the data store1320 interacts with client devices and with game agents of the virtualmachines. The data store 1320 sends a game list of supported gamingapplications to each of the client devices. Also, each region/DC is ableto maintain its own list of games (including game fencing). Eachoperator/MSO is able to maintain its own list of games (including gamefencing). And client devices are able to load the game list from thecloud gaming platform that provides the gaming sessions.

As shown the game data store 1320 provides game profiles for each of thegaming applications. For instance, the game profile includes title data1322; title assets 1321; filter data 1323; launch data 1324; and fencedata. The game title data 1322 (shown in FIG. 13K) include a Game ID(unique); Build ID; published date (to the cloud); screenshots (e.g.,player 1) and videos (URL links) (e.g., onboarded as file names); singleplayer/multi-player capabilities; languages supported; game name,publisher name, genre, description of the game; game release data,publisher's URL; URL for support or additional promotions (e.g.,GeForce.com URL); cover art or link to cover art (e.g., on boarded asfile names); rating/age requirements; buy parameters (e.g., link topurchase path); and user input idle warning limit (e.g., in seconds).

In addition, the title assets 1321 include binary/downloadable assetspointed to by the title data URLs. The filter data 1323 includes regionsallowed, list of hardware configuration supported and VM images, toinclude the OS/driver, and compatible input device. The launch data 1324includes install script, launch script, keyframe type and star frame,start time, game process name and aux processes, POPS per hw, gamesetting script/exe, game disk I/O profile, user input idle maximum limit(in seconds). The fence data includes game on/off (zone wide oruser/account level), and game playtime limit (e.g., global).

FIG. 13K is a diagram 1300K illustrating a game profile data flow. Atstep 1, the client device (through a user interface to an end user)requests a game list. At step 2, the cloud client SDK gets the game listfrom the one or more provisioning mangers 1302. At step 3, the provisionmanager 1303 gets non-fenced game list by checking cached Title andFilter data (e.g., implemented as folders), previously described. Thegame profile data structure includes the following: “games/release”indicates which gaming applications are playable; “games/fenced”indicates which gaming applications are unavailable; and “games/staging”indicates which gaming applications are currently being staged. At step4, the provision manager returns filtered Title Data to the clientdevice 1303. At step 5, the UI on the client device 1303 loads the TitleAssets off the HTTP file servers. At step 6, the game request is sent tothe provision manager 1303 from the client device 1303. At step 7, theprovision manager 1303 checks the Filter data for capable game seats andallocates from the game seat registry 1304. At step 8, the provisionmanager 1303 sends the Launch Data to the game agent 1305 on theobtained game seat 1301. At step 9, a normal game launch and sessioninitialization is performed.

FIG. 13L is a diagram 1300L illustrating dynamic resolution for gamingapplications and applications at session start, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. M is a block diagram 1300M illustrating the components of eachlayer utilizing a cloud based virtualized graphics processing system, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. For instance,the cloud infrastructure 1330 comprises a VM controller, physical nodes,virtualization, NAS, network, monitoring and tools, quality of service(QoS), support, etc. The software stack layer 1331 implements the cloudbased graphics processing service (e.g., gaming platform) and includes agame manager 1332 which performs streaming, encoding, QoS management,save and loading, DRM/Serial key management). The software stack layer1331 includes the provision manager 11302 which includes a dispatcher,user queuing, user verification, and game registration. The gamingclient layer 1335 includes various functional components, includes aproto client, a GFE, one or more links to web content (e.g.,GeForce.com), a tablet native client, and user management. Also, adatabase 1334 is configured to store persistent data used to createvirtual machines that are custom to a user. For instance, the database1334 stores user profile information, and game save information, aspreviously described.

FIG. N is a block diagram illustrating a game manager 1340 and aprovision manager 1303, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As shown, one instance of a game manager 1340 is providedwithin a virtual machine or game seat 1301. The game manager 1340manages the gaming application launched within the game seat 1301, andincludes a game agent 1305. The game agent 1305 includes the following:a launcher which performs launching of applications, termination ofapplications, cleanup, and monitoring of applications; a game statemanager, which performs saying and loading operations; and a serial keymanager. The game manager 1340 also includes a stream server 1341, whichmanages the outgoing streams. The stream server 1341 includes whichfurther includes a QoS manager, a video streamer, and audio streamer,and user actions streamer.

There is one instance of a provision manager in a network of cloud basedvirtual machines serviced by a plurality of servers providing a servercloud 461A-N. the provision manager includes a user verification module,a game registration module, a physical instance launcher, an instancepool, a game agent interface, and user queuing.

FIG. 130 is a block diagram of various implementations of GPUvirtualization for providing cloud based graphics processing for remotedisplays. In Type 1, there is physical virtualization of GPUs. That is,every virtual machine (e.g., VM1 and VM2) is assigned to one physicalGPU, such as, a chipset, through a virtualization interface (e.g., XENvirtual machine interface). In Type 2, there is virtualization of GPUs.That is, each virtual machine (e.g., VM1 and VM2) is assigned to avirtual GPU through a virtualization interface. In Type 3, there isagain virtualization of GPUs, but through a pseudo virtual machine. Thatis, a virtual machine is itself split into one or more sub virtualmachines (e.g., VBox). Each of the sub virtual machines is assigned tovirtual GPU.

FIGS. 14A-H are diagrams illustrating a system and method fordynamically allocating and assigning game seats in a cloud basedgaming/application environment or gaming platform, in embodiments of thepresent invention. Again, the gaming platform provides a complete gamingexperience to connected end users. For instance, the gaming platformprovides the necessary CPU and GPU processing powers through acorresponding virtual machine, and supplies a requested gamingapplication that the end user wants to play. In essence, end usersconnect with the gaming platform through user sessions in order to playsupported gaming applications. The illustrations provided in FIGS. 14A-Hprovide further details and features first illustrated in architecture400B of FIG. 4B and further illustrated in FIGS. 13A-O. Though FIG.514A-H refer to gaming applications, it is understood that the cloudbased graphics processing platform is configured to support any type ofapplication.

When allocating game seats, the virtual machines need to be managed. Forinstance, the virtual machines need to be started and/or instantiated.An active virtual machine needs to be managed and advertised throughoutthe network as to its availability and capabilities. The virtual machineneeds to be recycled after the application is finished, or when thevirtual machine goes “bad”, or for any other reason. Management of thevirtual machine is related to the specifics of the virtual machine, andnot necessarily to the application running on the virtual machine, whichis related to managing applications.

On the other hand, the management of applications includes managingrequests to play a gaming application, as previously described. Themanagement of applications includes accepting the request, matching therequest to suitably resourced game seats by knowing about applicationrequirements for task execution, providing feedback about the playinitialization process, establishing a game session, and terminating agame session.

In particular, a user session manager runs on portals or the machinesthat accept user requests, including the provision manager 1302. Inaddition, the VM manager or VM Host Manager 462 knows how to handlevirtual machines, but does not know about the application specifics. Theseat registry 1304 provides a space where game seats are advertised, anda place where the allocation and allocation status of game seats aremanaged (taken for allocation, and returned for later allocation).

FIG. 14A is a diagram 1400A illustrating the processing of an incomingrequest, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Asshown, the load balancer 466 receives the incoming request from an enduser or client device 1302. There are many end users and potentiallybursts of requests, and only a limited number of user session managerslocated in the portal(s) 1402. In order to provide progress updates tothe client device 1302, after accepting a request, the user sessionmanager 1401 puts a request into a prioritized FIFO queue from whereinit is asynchronously processed. As shown in FIG. 14A, requests areplaced into FIFO queues, which are arranged by performance class. Thatis, each queue is associated with a particular game seat performanceclass (high, medium, low resource capabilities). For example, queue 1403may be associated with the high performance class, and the queue 1404may be associated with the medium performance class. In particular,depending on the application requirements, one or more performanceclasses of virtual machines may service that application. For example,the application may run on the highest powered virtual machine and givethe best overall gaming experience, but may also run on a medium poweredvirtual machine, and still give a satisfactory gaming experience.

Assigning a game seat of a particular performance class will depend onvarious factors. For instance, the user requirements are considered,such as, what application does the user want to execute. In addition,resource requirements for the request are considered, such as, whatrequirements are necessary to execute the application (e.g., CPU, GPU,memory, bandwidth requirements. In addition, the process used forsetting up a game session is considered, and when the anticipated gamesession termination is also considered.

FIG. 14B is a diagram 1400B illustrating the further processing ofincoming requests to execute an application, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure. In a portal 1402, the user sessionmanager understand the requested application specifics and asks for aservice or game seat that can fulfill application specific requirements.In particular, the user session manager 1401 talks to the seat provisionmanager 1406 and provides parameters for the service being requested.The seat provision manager 1406 understand how to interpret the requestand translate it into a SIM request that is handled by the SIM module1407. The SIM module 1407 talks to the seat registry 1304 using a keyprovided by the seat provision manager 1406, retrieves the value, andreturns it to the seat provision manager 1406. The seat provisionmanager 1406 then interprets the value and returns it to the usersession manager 1401. In particular, game seats are represented askey-value pairs.

From the seat registry 1304 perspective, all entries are key-valuepairs. In addition, multiple values for the same key are allowed inwhich case the value is stored as a list. From the seat provisionmanager 1406 perspective, keys are used to retrieve end point virtualmachines that are capable of performing certain tasks. In a key-pair,the key takes the form of “/SeatFree/performance class/”. An example keyincludes “Seat/Free/Medium/” which indicates that a virtual machine iscapable of performing “medium” level of services. In a key-pair, thevalue may take on the following form as an example:10.0.172.1.192.168.1.1 at 10.0.0.1. This value indicates that thisvirtual machine lives on the management host with IP address of10.0.0.1.

FIG. 14C is a diagram 1400C illustrating seat register entries forrequest processing. There are four distinct buckets to which a virtualmachine or game seat is registered. A hot bucket 1410 includes a list ofseats that are available or free, and assigned game seats. A bootingbucket 1411 includes a list of game seats that are currently booting up.A fenced bucket 1412 includes a list of game seats that are unavailableand fenced off. A failed bucket 1413 includes a list of game seats thathave failed.

FIG. 14D is a diagram 1400D illustrating the process of seat allocation.In particular, the seat provision manager 1406 returns the first freeservice or game seat that can service a request, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, seats with thehighest performance class required are first provisioned, then the nexthighest, etc. the entry is popped by the seat provision manager 1406 toactually find the location of the seat. The user session manager 1401now has the IP address that represents the game seat that is capable ofexecuting the required task, or executing the application. The usersession manager contacts the VM Host Manager 462 that controls this gameseat, and asks it to ensure that game seats health. In particular, theVM Host Manager asks the game agent 1305 about the health of the gameseat 1301. The VM Host Manager then complies and marks the game seat1301 as being assigned. The user session manager 1401 then contacts thegame agent 1305 to initiate the gaming application.

In the seat allocation, a game seat is available in the free list mostof the time (e.g., over 95 percent). As such, the seat registrationentry is moved to the HOT/assigned list. When a game seat is notavailable in the free list, then an error code is returned. In thatcase, all physical hardware is in use, and a waiting process isperformed until a service release occurs before any request can beserviced. In another case, although there are not more HOT virtualmachines, more virtual machines can be brought online to serve theincreasing demand at a particular point in time. Furthermore, whenwaiting, the seat provision manager 1406 is configured to support a“call me when this type of seat is available” functionality. That is,the seat provision manager 1406 is looking for notification that acertain type of game seat has become available from the seat registry1304.

FIG. 14E is a diagram 1400E illustrating the communication from the gameagent 1305 to the user session manager 1401A or 1401B, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present disclosure. The game agent 1305 sendsmessages back to the user session managers 1401A and 1401B on provisionmanagers to give updates on the progress of game initialization,streaming updates, crashes, etc. This communication is done using the IPaddress of the portal 1402A or 1402B or provision manager that initiatedgame initialization. If this IP address is not responsive/reachable,then the game agent is able to broadcast to all the provision managers(e.g., 1402A-N) a request asking “is there a PM out there” that canhandle my request. All the provision managers are listing and willresponse. In addition, the game agent 1305 sense updates to the firstproviding manager that responds. There are two major advantages whenbroadcasting, when referring to registering to the provision manager,and looking up a game seat. First, if one provision manager fails, thentraffic to the registry would spike in an increases of 1000 times (e.g.,one provision manager per 1000 game seats). In addition, a failedprovision manager may still be in the registry.

FIG. 14F is a diagram 1400F illustrating the process used when releasinga game seat, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Once a task (e.g., game session) is complete, a user sessionmanager 1401 invokes the seat provision manager 1406 to release a gameseat. The seat provision manager 1406 involves the VM Host Manager 462running on the physical machine/server to reset the game seat/service(e.g., reset virtual machine), in step 1. In step 2, the VM Host Managerinstructs the service registry 1304 to remove the game seat, and assuch, it is removed from the assigned block. In step 3, the VM HostManager 462 resets the service and sends the registration to the serviceregistry 1304, so that the game seat is now free and available. That is,the status of the game seat is moved from the assigned block to the freeblock.

When maintaining seat registrations, the VM Host Manager is responsibleto maintain seat registrations. The VM Host Manager verifies that thegame seats under its control are registered with the service registry1304. In addition, if the VM Host Manager discovers that a game seat issomehow missing from the service registry 1304, then the VM Host Manageradds the game seat to the service registry 1304. The check for game seatstatus is periodic. For example, the VM Host Manager knows where theregistration should be (e.g., under which bucket, so it should checkunder the correct bucket list). In addition, adding a game seat to theservice registry 1304 is a synchronized operation for the VM HostManager. Also, the VM Host Manager handles all the race conditions thatmay exist in the process of seat management. The race conditions arehandled such that seat re-registration is not performed too hastily, anda re-verification process is performed before re-registering.

In prioritized FIFO processing, when a request to play a game comes in,it is stamped with a running global sequence number and placed in thequeue that corresponds to the requested capability. This implies thatthere is as many queues for incoming requests as there are seatcapabilities. The thread that is processing requests will create ashort-lived global lock to ensure the true FIFO nature of the queue.That is, only one thread processing requests may hold the global lock ata time. The thread will try to fulfill the request with the lowestsequence number with an item (that is associated with a game seat). Ifno seats are available, it will try to fulfill the next lowest requestitem (the next sequence number in line) with a game seat that may have alower capability, if one exists. This is done to ensure maximum seatoccupancy. That is, a request for a lower capability seat is not stuckbehind a request for a higher capability seat and the FIFO integrity isstill maintained.

FIG. 14G is a diagram 1400G illustrating a seat provision manager callback, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Theseat provision manager 1406 supports a “call me when this service isavailable” feature. Specifically, the seat provision manager 1406 is notpolling seat registry, but is listening to the broadcasts from the VMHost Managers. That is, the VM Host Manager is registering the seat inthe seat registry 1304, and the VM Host Manager broadcast seatavailability once the virtual machine is HOT.

When the seat provision manager 1406 receives a broadcast, a callbackmethod “seat might be available” is invoked. The call back methodimplementation of the user session manager notifies the thread(s) thatare processing the request from the user queue, and this thread gets thefirst entry from the prioritized FIFO queue and proceeds with normalexecution. Specifically, multiple threads may compete over a single gameseat that became available, but using the global lock, the integrity ofthe FIFO queue is maintained. Also, queue processing thread invokes anend-point (e.g., game agent) to start executing the task.

FIG. 14H is a diagram 1400H that illustrates the network connectivitybetween components of a cloud based graphics processing platform that isperforms seat allocation, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent disclosure. In one implementation, the diagram 1400H combinesportions of diagrams 1400A and 1400F, wherein diagrams 1400A and 1400Hillustrate the process of handling an incoming request through the usersession managers 1401 located in the portals 1402 of provision managers1303. The requests are delivered to the prioritized FIFO (e.g., 1403).The user session manager 1401 understands the requested applicationspecifics and asks for a service or game seat that can fulfillapplication specific requirements by inquiring through the serviceregistry 1304. In addition, diagrams 1400F and 1400H illustrate theprocess of assigning and releasing a game seat using the VM HostManagers 462, the seat registry 1304, and the management hosts.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating a method for allocating a virtualmachine to an end client in a cloud based graphics processing system, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In stillanother embodiment, flow diagram 1500 illustrates a computer implementedmethod for allocating a virtual machine to an end client in a cloudbased graphics processing system. In another embodiment, flow diagram1500 is implemented within a computer system including a processor andmemory coupled to the processor and having stored therein instructionsthat, if executed by the computer system causes the system to execute amethod for allocating a virtual machine to an end client in a cloudbased graphics processing system. In still another embodiment,instructions for performing a method as outlined in flow diagram 1500are stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-executable instructions for causing a computer system toperform a method for allocating a virtual machine to an end client in acloud based graphics processing system. In embodiments, the methodoutlined in flow diagram 1500 is implementable by one or more componentsof the computer system 100 and client device 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2,respectively.

Flow diagram 1500 illustrates a method to allocate and assign game seatsin a cloud wherein each game seat is configured to host one or moreinstances of gaming or application execution. A software moduleprovision manager 1303 handles requests for game seats in a queuefashion. It translates the request into a game seat of a particularperformance class in order to optimally provide the end user with thebest gaming experience. Each performance class for the game seats isassociated with a queue into which the requested added.

In particular, at 1510, the method includes receiving a request forexecuting an application from a client device associated with an enduser. At 1520, the method includes determining a first performance classfor the application, which indicates what kind of resources are neededto execute the application properly in order to give the end user a goodgaming experience. More than one performance class may be assigned tothe application. At 1530, the method includes determining a firstvirtual machine of the first performance class that is available. Thatis, virtual machines are also assigned performance classes that matchthose assigned to the application. By matching performance classesbetween the application and the virtual machine, an optimal gamingexperience is provided to the end user when playing the gamingapplication, for example. At 1540, the method includes assigning thefirst virtual machine for purposes of executing the application inassociation with the client device. That is, the first virtual machineis assigned to the end user.

If it is determined that no virtual machine of the first performanceclass is available, then the method includes determining a secondperformance class for the application, and determining that a secondvirtual machine is available that is also of the second performanceclass. The second virtual machine is then assigned to the end user forpurposes of executing the application.

Requests for game seats are treated in a first-in-first-out (FIFO)fashion. A pool of worker threads work on the various queues by peekingat the first item in the queues, checking for availability in akey-value store, and when available popping the request off in a FIFOmanner. A global lock is used to ensure that requests are handled in aFIFO manner. Operation of the global lock is described in relation toFIG. 16. The provision manager 1303 contacts the resource owner of thegame seat for confirmation and updated registration of the game seat.Allocation is completed by contacting the game agent 1305 running on thegame seat 1301 and passing on the request details.

When implementing the FIFO queue, a request is assigned a unique globalsequence number. The request is placed into one or more FIFO queuesdepending on the assigned performance classes of the application.Processing of the requests is handled by retrieving the first item fromeach of the plurality of queues, wherein each item in the plurality ofqueues is associated with a request having a corresponding sequencenumber. It is determined which of the items have the lowest sequencenumber. An available virtual machine is assigned to the requestassociated with that item. If no virtual machine is available for thatitem, then a next item is determined having the next lowest sequencenumber. An available virtual machine is assigned to that next item Moregenerally, if no seat is determined for the item having the lowestsequence number, then the method repeatedly determines a next item withthe lowest sequence number, wherein the next item has not beenconsidered for seat assignment and allocation. Thereafter, an availablevirtual machine is assigned to that item.

In a physical server that is hosting multiple virtual machines, eachvirtual machine is considered as a game seat (e.g., 1301). It shouldembodiment appreciated that each virtual machine may support multipleseats, or that one seat may be supported by multiple virtual machines.Different applications may require different amounts of resources and/orprocessing power. For example, a 3D (there dimensional) gamingapplication may require more resourcing and processing than a 2D (twodimensional) gaming application. Based on the gaming application, theavailable seats and their corresponding performance classes, unavailableseats, and the performance class of the gaming application, as well asthe performance classes of gaming seats supporting that application inhistory, a given seat may be designated with a certain level ofperformance class. Therefore, it may be determined whether a seat isappropriate to begin executing a gaming application that may require oreor less processing power. Accordingly, gaming seats may be allocated orassigned to different applications based on performance classes theavailable gaming seats and of the application to be executed.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart 1600 illustrating a computer implemented methodfor implementing a global lock to order the handling of requests, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In stillanother embodiment, flow diagram 1600 illustrates a computer implementedmethod for implementing a global lock to order the handling of requests.In another embodiment, flow diagram 1600 is implemented within acomputer system including a processor and memory coupled to theprocessor and having stored therein instructions that, if executed bythe computer system causes the system to execute a method forimplementing a global lock to order the handling of requests. In stillanother embodiment, instructions for performing a method as outlined inflow diagram 1600 are stored on a non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium having computer-executable instructions for causing acomputer system to perform a method for implementing a global lock toorder the handling of requests. In embodiments, the method outlined inflow diagram 1600 is implementable by one or more components of thecomputer system 100 and client device 200 of FIGS. 1 and 2,respectively.

At 1601, the method attempts to obtain the global lock. At 1602, theglobal lock is attempted to be obtained. At 1603, an attempt is made toacquire the lock by checking the name of the lock and seeing if thecurrent thread or another thread set the name of the lock. At 1603, iffalse, then the name is not the same, and another thread has set thename, and the process goes to 1605. At 1603, if true, then the lock isobtained, and the process proceeds to 1604, wherein the request can beallocated.

On the other hand, if the lock is not obtained, then the processproceeds to 1605 and checks that health of the lock to see if the lockshould be destroyed and replaced. At 1620, the process verifies that thelock is healthy. At 1621, the value of the lock is obtained from REDISdatabase. At 1622, a comparison is made to see if timeout has expired,the longest lifetime of a lock. At 1623, an attempt is made to free thelock. That is, the value of the lock is obtained again a second time,and a new value is placed there with a name related to the currentthread. At 1624, a comparison is made to determine if the lock obtainedthe second time is the same as the name of the lock obtained the firsttime. If they are identical, then the thread can release the lock andobtain the lock (put its name to the lock in REDIS) at 1625. If not thesame, then another thread has beaten this thread to release the lock. Assuch, at 1626, the value obtained the second time is restored back intothe memory location in the REDIS database.

When releasing the lock at 1630, release is performed aggressively at1631, and tried for about ten times. If successful, then the processends, and the lock is released. However, if not released, then at 1632 adelete lock name operation is attempted. If successful at 1633, then thelock is released, and the process proceeds to 1637. On the other hand,if not successful at 1633, then wait 6 milliseconds at 1634, and retryback at 1631. If not successful, or the retry exceeds the maximum limitof tries, then the process at 1635 throws an exception at 1636.

Returning back to 1606, if the lock was not obtained, then a lock pulsemechanism is performed at 1607. This mechanism provides notificationthat a lock has been released. The notification is provided to the nextthread in line to obtain the lock, wherein that thread begins at 1601.

FIGS. 17A-F are illustrations of various methods implemented for seatallocation in a cloud based graphics processing system, in accordancewith embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, FIG. 17A is aflow diagram 1700A illustrating a method for seat allocation by a threadthat is processing a request from a FIFO queue, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17B-C are flow diagrams1700B-C illustrating a method for processing a request once a globallock is acquired, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 17D is a flow diagram 1700D illustrating a method forinitiating game play, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 17E is a flow diagram 1700E illustrating a method forrecovering a thread for the “assigning” list, wherein this occurs upon afailure after seat allocation, wherein a separate thread is monitoringthe “assigning” list, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 17F is a flow diagram 1700F illustrating a method forlistening for remote communication, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

TABLE 5 LISTING OF CLAIMS  1. A method of allocation, comprising: receiving a request for executing an application from a client deviceassociated with an end user;  determining a first performance class forsaid application;  determining a first virtual machine of the firstperformance class that is available; and  assigning said first virtualmachine for purposes of executing said application in association withsaid client device.  2. The method of Claim 1, further comprising: determining a second performance class for said application when novirtual machine of said first performance class is available; determining a second virtual machine of said second performance classthat is available; and  assigning said second virtual machine for use bysaid end user to execute said application.  3. The method of Claim 1,further comprising:  assigning a unique global sequence number to saidrequest;  placing said request into one or more FIFO queues depending onassigned performance classes of said application;  4. The method ofClaim 3, further comprising:  retrieving a first item from each of theplurality of queues, wherein each item in said plurality of queues isassociated with a request having a corresponding sequence number; determining which of said retrieved items has the lowest sequencenumber; and  assigning an available virtual machine to a requestassociated with said item having the lowest sequence number.  5. Themethod of Claim 4, further comprising:  determining that no virtualmachine is available for said item having the lowest sequence number; determining a next item with a next lowest sequence number; and assigning an available virtual machine to said item with said nextlowest sequence number.  6. The method of Claim 4, further comprising: determining that no virtual machine is available for said item havingthe lowest sequence number;  repeatedly determining a next item with anext lowest sequence number that has not been considered; and  assigningan available virtual machine to said item with said next lowest sequencenumber that has not been considered.  7. The method of Claim 1, whereinsaid virtual machine is instantiated in a cloud based processing systemproviding graphics processing for a remote display associated with saidclient device.  8. A non-transitory computer readable medium havingcomputer executable instructions for causing a computer system toperform a method for allocation, comprising:  receiving a request forexecuting an application from a client device associated with an enduser;  determining a first performance class for said application; determining a first virtual machine of the first performance class thatis available; and  assigning said first virtual machine for purposes ofexecuting said application in association with said client device.  9.The computer readable medium of Claim 8, wherein said method furthercomprises:  determining a second performance class for said applicationwhen no virtual machine of said first performance class is available; determining a second virtual machine of said second performance classthat is available; and  assigning said second virtual machine for use bysaid end user to execute said application.  10. The computer readablemedium of Claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:  assigning aunique global sequence number to said request;  placing said requestinto one or more FIFO queues depending on assigned performance classesof said application;  11. The computer readable medium of Claim 10,wherein said method further comprises:  retrieving a first item fromeach of the plurality of queues, wherein each item in said plurality ofqueues is associated with a request having a corresponding sequencenumber;  determining which of said retrieved items has the lowestsequence number; and  assigning an available virtual machine to arequest associated with said item having the lowest sequence number. 12. The computer readable medium of Claim 11, wherein said methodfurther comprises:  determining that no virtual machine is available forsaid item having the lowest sequence number;  determining a next itemwith a next lowest sequence number; and  assigning an available virtualmachine to said item with said next lowest sequence number.  13. Thecomputer readable medium of Claim 11, wherein said method furthercomprises:  determining that no virtual machine is available for saiditem having the lowest sequence number;  repeatedly determining a nextitem with a next lowest sequence number that has not been considered;and  assigning an available virtual machine to said item with said nextlowest sequence number that has not been considered.  14. The computerreadable medium of Claim 8, wherein in said method said virtual machineis instantiated in a cloud based processing system providing graphicsprocessing for a remote display associated with said client device.  15.A computer system comprising:  a processor; and  memory coupled to saidprocessor and having stored therein instructions that, if executed by acomputer system, causes said computer system to execute a method ofallocation, comprising:  receiving a request for executing anapplication from a client device associated with an end user; determining a first performance class for said application; determining a first virtual machine of the first performance class thatis available; and  assigning said first virtual machine for purposes ofexecuting said application in association with said client device.  16.The computer system of Claim 1, wherein said method further comprises: determining a second performance class for said application when novirtual machine of said first performance class is available; determining a second virtual machine of said second performance classthat is available; and  assigning said second virtual machine for use bysaid end user to execute said application.  17. The computer system ofClaim 15, wherein said method further comprises:  assigning a uniqueglobal sequence number to said request;  placing said request into oneor more FIFO queues depending on assigned performance classes of saidapplication;  18. The computer system of Claim 17, wherein said methodfurther comprises:  retrieving a first item from each of the pluralityof queues, wherein each item in said plurality of queues is associatedwith a request having a corresponding sequence number;  determiningwhich of said retrieved items has the lowest sequence number; and assigning an available virtual machine to a request associated withsaid item having the lowest sequence number.  19. The computer system ofClaim 18, wherein said method further comprises:  determining that novirtual machine is available for said item having the lowest sequencenumber;  determining a next item with a next lowest sequence number; and assigning an available virtual machine to said item with said nextlowest sequence number.  20. The computer system of Claim 18, whereinsaid method further comprises:  determining that no virtual machine isavailable for said item having the lowest sequence number;  repeatedlydetermining a next item with a next lowest sequence number that has notbeen considered; and  assigning an available virtual machine to saiditem with said next lowest sequence number that has not been considered.

Thus, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, systems andmethods are described implementing cloud based virtualized graphicsprocessing for remote displays, as implemented through visual computingappliances.

While the foregoing disclosure sets forth various embodiments usingspecific block diagrams, flowcharts, and examples, each block diagramcomponent, flowchart step, operation, and/or component described and/orillustrated herein may be implemented, individually and/or collectively,using a wide range of hardware, software, or firmware (or anycombination thereof) configurations. In addition, any disclosure ofcomponents contained within other components should be considered asexamples in that many architectural variants can be implemented toachieve the same functionality.

The process parameters and sequence of steps described and/orillustrated herein are given by way of example only and can be varied asdesired. For example, while the steps illustrated and/or describedherein may be shown or discussed in a particular order, these steps donot necessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated ordiscussed. The various example methods described and/or illustratedherein may also omit one or more of the steps described or illustratedherein or include additional steps in addition to those disclosed.

While various embodiments have been described and/or illustrated hereinin the context of fully functional computing systems, one or more ofthese example embodiments may be distributed as a program product in avariety of forms, regardless of the particular type of computer-readablemedia used to actually carry out the distribution. The embodimentsdisclosed herein may also be implemented using software modules thatperform certain tasks. These software modules may include script, batch,or other executable files that may be stored on a computer-readablestorage medium or in a computing system. These software modules mayconfigure a computing system to perform one or more of the exampleembodiments disclosed herein. One or more of the software modulesdisclosed herein may be implemented in a cloud computing environment.Cloud computing environments may provide various services andapplications via the Internet. These cloud-based services (e.g.,software as a service, platform as a service, infrastructure as aservice, etc.) may be accessible through a Web browser or other remoteinterface. Various functions described herein may be provided through aremote desktop environment or any other cloud-based computingenvironment.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention andvarious embodiments with various modifications as may be suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Embodiments according to the present disclosure are thus described.While the present disclosure has been described in particularembodiments, it should be appreciated that the disclosure should not beconstrued as limited by such embodiments, but rather construed accordingto the below claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for network cloud resource generation,comprising: creating a template virtual machine; creating aninstantiation of a virtual machine for an end user by cloning saidtemplate; loading an application executed by said virtual machine;accessing first information associated with said end user; and loadingsaid first information in an instantiation of said application.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said template virtual machine comprises aplurality of pre-selected gaming applications available to each of aplurality of end users.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said accessingfirst information comprises: accessing a saved game file associated withsaid application.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said accessing firstinformation comprises: accessing a user profile of said user.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving an instruction toterminate said instantiation of said virtual machine; and storing anupdated version of said specific information associated with said userin a storage system independent of said virtual machine.
 6. The methodof claim 1, wherein said creating an instantiation of a virtual machinecomprises: determining an original allocation of a plurality ofresources for said instantiation of said virtual machine; reducing saidoriginal allocation of said plurality of resources; and initializingsaid virtual machine using said reduced allocation of said plurality ofresources.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said reducing said originalallocation comprises: reducing said original allocation for each of saidplurality of resources.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said reducingsaid original allocation comprises: allocating each of said plurality ofresources at an amount that is less than twenty-five percent of acorresponding original allocation.
 9. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: after said virtual machine is instantiated, allocatingadditional resources for each of said plurality of resources to reachsaid original allocation.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein saidinitializing said virtual machine further comprises: initializing saidinstantiation of said virtual machine in a cloud based graphicsprocessing system for an end user.
 11. A non-transitory computerreadable medium having computer executable instructions for causing acomputer system to perform a method for network cloud resourcegeneration, comprising: creating a template virtual machine; creating aninstantiation of a virtual machine for an end user by cloning saidtemplate; loading an application executed by said virtual machine;accessing specific information associated with said end user; andloading said specific information in an instantiation of saidapplication.
 12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein insaid method said template virtual machine comprises a plurality ofpre-selected gaming applications available to each of a plurality of endusers.
 13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein saidaccessing first information in said method comprises: accessing a savedgame file associated with said application; and accessing a user profileof said user.
 14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein saidcreating an instantiation of a virtual machine in said method comprises:determining an original allocation of a plurality of resources for aninstantiation of a virtual machine; reducing said original allocation ofsaid plurality of resources; and initializing said virtual machine usingsaid reduced allocation of said plurality of resources.
 15. The computerreadable medium of claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:after said virtual machine is instantiated, allocating additionalresources for each of said plurality of resources to reach said originalallocation.
 16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein saidplurality of resources comprises a number of CPU cores, and an amount ofmemory.
 17. A computer system comprising: a processor; and memorycoupled to said processor and having stored therein instructions that,if executed by a computer system, causes said computer system to executea method for network cloud resource generation, comprising: creating atemplate virtual machine; creating an instantiation of a virtual machinefor an end user by cloning said template; loading an applicationexecuted by said virtual machine; accessing specific informationassociated with said end user; and loading said specific information inan instantiation of said application.
 18. The computer system of claim17, wherein in said method said template virtual machine comprises aplurality of pre-selected gaming applications available to each of aplurality of end users.
 19. The computer system of claim 17, whereinsaid creating an instantiation of a virtual machine in said methodcomprises: determining an original allocation of a plurality ofresources for said instantiation of said virtual machine; reducing saidoriginal allocation of said plurality of resources; and initializingsaid virtual machine using said reduced allocation of said plurality ofresources.
 20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein said methodfurther comprises: after said virtual machine is instantiated,allocating additional resources for each of said plurality of resourcesuntil reaching said original allocation.